Windrush 60th

Who is Windrush Day for and why should we celebrate it? 

To answer this question we need to go back to World War 11 and the evacuation associated with Britain’s expeditionary force in France and its troops trapped at Dunkirk.

On 18^th June 1940, in the aftermath of German defeating the British and French armies, Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, warned of an impending invasion. He said, ‘Wars are not won by evacuations’ and ‘the nation should brace itself for another blow, we are told that Hitler has a plan for invading the British Isles’. But if Churchill wanted people to fear Germany, he also knew he had to give them hope.  They would fight not only to save themselves, but also to create a better, fairer and more democratic society not just at home but around the world.  He also knew Britain could not win the war alone.  She would, as in the First World War, need help.

The British were not alone,  1^st September 1939, on the outbreak of war, His Majesty’s government in London received a telegram from the West Indies, it said Don’t worry, Barbados is with you. In a cartoon printed by Punch in 1940 two British soldiers are depicted looking out to sea, so our poor empire is alone in the world’, remarks one soldier, aye, we are, replies the other, ‘the whole 500 million of us’.

Britain emerged from World War 2 as one of the   ‘Big 3 ’ along with the United States and the       Soviet Union, with the psychology of a victor but with economic circumstances more resembling those of   a defeated country.  Britain was literally bankrupt. 

Officially known as the European Recovery Program, the Marshall Plan concept was intended to rebuild the economies and spirits of Western Europe.  This was initially turned down by Britain, fearing it would turn her into a second-class power. Ireland continued to be a major source of labour for the British economy.  The government turned to the Caribbean, which was the jewels of the empire during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, as it required substantial labour force to work the plantations.  British West Indian were actively recruited, joining those who had served as sea and service men.  This was later followed by migration from the Indian sub-continent. 

Whilst it may appear that today’s British national self image has been totally re-modelled, for centuries, British citizens have had their origins in Africa, the Caribbean, America, Asia, Australia together with many other global nations. 

In a sense the journey of the Windrush began long before 1948, and for those who truly know their history, they will know that journey has not ended.

BARRY DREAD – Coming to England

Barry Dread is bassist/ singer/songwriter who plays some
Original roots reggae vibe with a spiritual, uplifting and truthful
message.

Born in London he has been in the music business for over 30 years having the pleasure to learn from and to play with, along with his band Sunset, many of the reggae greats such as John Holt Alton Ellis, Leroy Smart and many others.

Sunset band was the heart and soul of Barry Dread in the 80’s and had many singers and worked with many community artists, there were plenty of park events and shows and graced the stage with community bands like Instigators and Hard rock, Undivided roots.

Sunset band released one tune called U R THE ONE in 1990 and recorded an album that was never released with the singer Gilroy Sidden who had a number one hit called YOU’VE CHANGE produced by Cleveland Neunie a Sunset band member.

In 1990 Sunset broke up, Barry Dread started working  with a band
called Rockstone with Amaziah lightning  and Asher the storm based at the music workshop in Islington called High fashion started by Clive Aiken  a member of Sunset and Roy Edwards. During this time he decided to become a solo artist because he always wrote songs and was tired of singers who let all that work he put in go to waste.

1992 he started going studio to record his works but then an
opportunity came along to tour Europe with this artist from Jamaica  called Iqulah a great Ras affiliated to the Nyabinghi order
He went to nearly all the countries in Europe and during that time  he became more Ital and Vital it was a great spiritual upliftment and to see how reggae music is loved everywhere.


In 1997 he released his 1st single MOTHERS CRY on his own label CAN RECORDS a song about the travails of mothers internationally. Then in the same year he put out the double sided 12’’ called EDUCATION/ GIRL OF MY DREAMS then in 2000 he released JAH LOVE then a single called RUN GOH.

The back of that single he performed at the 40th Jamaican independent show at the Ocean music venue organized by Mikey Koos on stage with the likes of Justin Hines, Ken Booth, Al Campbell was truly a great night. That was followed by a mini tour with Coco T and Bushman.

In 2004 he released the single LOST AND FOUND taken from the debut album WE NEED LOVE the single got great reviews and the album is still being talked about as one of the most under rated.

While taking time out to deal with family issues he’s still working
playing bass for many artist Barry Brown, Wailing Souls, Junior Reid, Holly cook, Barry Issac, African Simba, Dawn Penn just to name some.

In 2012 Lumumba records released WAR ZONE taken from the WE NEED LOVE album was recorded again with musicians like Rim Bim  Rennie Bailey and Saito Runge the track is loved any where it’s heard and has become a tune to mark the latest riots.

2013 will bring a new album with Jah blessing called BREADBASKET he has released two tracks of the album WHAT’S UP and 1ST WORLD so far so good the rest is going to be history.

To listen to the tune Coming to England by Barry Dread
Click for more information
For further details contact Barry on  07932746411

cdbaby.com or itunes