haroon shamsher from joi: honoured with a blue plaque in brick lane
David Bowie, John Peel, Factory Records and Haroon Shamsher from Joi are among the music legends honoured by BBC as official Blue Plaques are unveiled on BBC Music Day.
BBC Local Radio, the BBC Asian Network and the British Plaque Trust will tomorrow (Thursday 15 June) unveil new blue plaques to commemorate people or places that have influenced the musical landscape across the country with innovation and success.
The Shamsher family and BBC Asian Network are delighted to invite you to honour the memory of pioneering musician Haroon Shamsher, founder of Joi.
A special Blue Plaque will be unveiled in East London. We would like you to join us at 10am sharp on Thursday 15th June outside 55 Brick Lane, London E1 (formerly Ambala Sweets).Haroon’s brother Farook will unveil the plaque, outside the building that the young Shamsher brothers moved into in Brick Lane, where their father ran a traditional music shop, and recording studio.
Haroon’s brother Farook Shamsher (Joi Soundsytem) will talk to Bobby Friction on his BBC Asian Network Show about Haroon on 15th June. @ 20.00
There will be a Haroon Shamsher Joi tribute anniversary event on Saturday evening 8 July 18.00 in the Kobi Nazrul Centre. E1
Quotes
I’m flattered awed and humbled that Haroon is being recognised by his peers and the wider music community, and know he would be proud of this acknowledgment with love Farook Shamsher
Haroon was a pioneer. A pioneer of sound, a pioneer of social conscience and awareness and a pioneer of Asian street credibility in Britain. He and his brother Farooq inspired myself and many others, including Talvin Singh, to search further and harder for new sounds to express a dispossessed generation of British Asians Nitwin Sawhney
Haroon was a fine and collegiate fellow to be with aboard the tour bus,as well as an attractive and charismatic presence on stage with Joi.
Haroon was also blessed with an impish sense of humour, his inflight attire including t shirt bearing the legend “don’t panic, i’m islamic”Colin Angus (The Shamen)
BBC Asian Network and BBC Music, with the British Plaque Trust, are really proud to honour music icons with the first Blue Plaques for artists from South-Asian heritage.
Haroon Shamsher continues to be an inspiration. The group changed the British music landscape and his cultural impact lives on today.” Mark Strippel, Head of BBC Radio 1Xtra / Asian Network
