Papa Face is a Reggae DJ, MC and club promoter based in London.
Ran his own Brixton based sound system Mafia Black who played with and against all the top South London sounds in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
Established a successful career as an artist with hits on Dub Vendor’s affiliated label Fashion Records, some featuring Bionic Rhona. In 1984 Papa Face and a full live band performed for John Peel as part of the ‘Peel Sessions’ at Maida Vale. During this time he had several Top Ten tunes in the Reggae Charts including ‘Dance Pon The Corner’ and ‘To The Bump’.
He is also well known for working at London's Dub Vendor record shop. Soon after arriving at Dub Vendor as a customer, Papa Face was to be found working Saturdays on the other side of the counter. He and the owner John MacGillivray became friends and soon he was the first full time person to work in the Clapham Junction shop.
John Dub Vendor introduced Papa Face to David Rodigan. From that day on Papa Face has worked alongside Rodigan DJing, MCing and hosting club nights. Together they established one of London’s longest running Saturday night reggae clubs, at Gossips in the West End, later going on to help running the legendary Rodigan’s Reggae at Subterrania and then Mass in Brixton.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have played Papa Face's music on his radio programmes between 1982 and 1984. The DJ invited Papa Face to do a session for his show in 1984, where he performed four tunes at Maida Vale.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1984-02-14. First Broadcast: 23 February 1984. Repeated: 12 March 1984
- Hot Hot Hot / Skidip / Mc Jamboree / Dedicated To I
Other Shows Played[]
- 02 March 1982: Forward Home (10" - In A Jamaica Style) Top Notch
- 08 March 1982: Forward Home (10" EP - In A Jamaica Style) Top Notch
- 14 March 1982 (BFBS): Forward Home (10" EP - In A Jamaica Style) Top Notch
- 23 March 1982: In A Jamaica Style (10") Top Notch
- 06 September 1982: Dance Pon De Corner (10") Top Notch
- 1983
- 06 July 1983 (BFBS): Jamming (10") Top Notch
- 15 November 1983 (& Bionic Rhona): To The Bump (7") Fashion
- 19 November 1983 (BFBS) (& Bionic Rhona): To The Bump (7") Fashion
- 03 December 1983 (BFBS) (& Bionic Rhona): To The Bump (7") Fashion
- 05 December 1983 (& Bionic Rhona): To The Bump (7") Fashion
- 10 December 1983 (BFBS) (& Laurel & Hardy): 'Three Man Toasting (LP-What A Bargain)' (Upright)
- 12 December 1983 (BBC World Service) (& Bionic Rhona): To The Bump (7") Fashion
- 1984
- 03 October 1984 (& Bionic Rhona): We're Bubbling Hot (12" - We're Bubbling Hot / Pon The Street) Fashion