Dennis Bovell


 * (This page covers the career of Dennis Bovell, including work with Matumbi and as Blackbeard.)

Dennis Bovell (born 22 May 1953) is a reggae guitarist, bass player and record producer. He was a member of the British reggae band Matumbi, and released dub records under his own name as well as the pseudonym Blackbeard. He is most widely known for his decades-spanning collaborations with Linton Kwesi Johnson. (Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel
Dennis Bovell was a central figure in the emergence of British reggae in the the second half of the 1970s, both as a musician and as a producer. Always keen to encourage UK-based reggae talent, Peel was more than happy to give airtime to Bovell's band, Matumbi, and his groundbreaking work as producer and musical director for reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The DJ appeared to take less interest in Bovell's work with lovers rock artists, but he did continue to play dub recordings put out under the Blackbeard alias.

Bovell is also known for his production work outside the reggae field, including for noted Peel session artists such as the Slits, Pop Group and Orange Juice.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions
Two sessions with Matumbi. No known official release. Bovell also played on two sessions by Linton Kwesi Johnson.

1. Recorded: 1978-02-28. First broadcast: 03 May 1978. Repeated: DD Month YYY
 * Music In The Air / Rock / Chatty-Chatty

2. Recorded: 1978-10-17. First broadcast: 13 November 1978. Repeated: DD Month YYY
 * Empire Road / Bluebeat And Ska / Money / Hook Deh

Other Shows Played

 * Matumbi
 * 06 October 1978: unknown tracks from debut album (The Peel Sessions (p.220), Ken Garner)
 * 03 October 1978: Empire Road (7") Harvest
 * 23 October 1978: Guide Us (LP – Seven Seals) Harvest
 * 16 August 1979: Pretender
 * 13 September 1979: Pretender (12" b-side - Point Of View (Squeeze A Little Lovin)) Matumbi
 * 15 October 1979: Pretender (single – Point Of View) Matumbi
 * 20 November 1979: Come With Me (LP - Point Of View) EMI
 * 20 November 1979: Bookie To The Bank (LP - Point Of View) EMI
 * 20 November 1979: Daughter Of Babylon (LP - Point Of View) EMI
 * 10 December 1979: Boy Oh Boy (LP - Point Of View) EMI/


 * Blackbeard
 * 02 January 1979 (& Winston Edwards): Ronald Biggs The Great Train Robber (LP - At 10 Downing Street - Dub Conference) Studio 16
 * 10 January 1979 (& Winston Edwards): Downing Street Rock (LP - At 10 Downing Street - Dub Conference) Studio 16
 * 25 February 1980: 'nough (LP - I Wah Dub) More Cut
 * 27 February 1980: Reflections (LP - I Wah Dub) More Cut
 * 22 June 1982: Reflections (album - I Wah Dub) More Cut