Cecil Morris @ Flatpack Cinema festival

 

During the 16th Flatpack Festival (17-22 May 2022) we had the pleasure of staging a conversation between Cecil Morris and Garry Stewart of Recognize Black Heritage & Culture. Since arriving in Birmingham from Jamaica in the early 60s, Cecil has been a musician, DJ and cultural entrepreneur for over fifty years. During the event he talked about the late-night film screenings he promoted at the Elite on Soho Road during the 1970s, and his role in setting up PCRL. This community pirate radio station was crucial to the city's Black community from its birth in the early 80s, surviving numerous raids by the DTI until it was finally closed down in 2004. The conversation formed part of Flatpack's Wonderland programme, presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival and supported by Arts Council England and National Lottery Heritage Fund. Cecil is a featured character within the Wonderland exhibition, which runs at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery until 30 October 2022. With thanks to the Mockingbird for hosting the event, and to Sima Gonsai for documenting it.

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Sandra Bee

𝐏𝐂𝐑𝐋 𝐃𝐉, 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐞, played dancehall, reggae & ragga music, shown here at the Porsche Club in 1995. Now found on Tellstream Dem on-line radio. Part of the Female Connection that was formed in 1991 and is the musical collaboration of Birmingham based Radio and Club DJ’s Sandra B and Lady Destiny. Both Ladies are of Jamaican origin which is where their deep understanding and love for Reggae and Dancehall music is rooted.

Female Connection play a variety of styles which include Reggae, Dancehall, Revival, R&B as well as Hip-Hop and Soul music, whereby they are at their best when it comes to playing dancehall music. Their unique playing style continues to attract interest also in the US and Jamaica. David Rodigan said about them : “… in 25 years I have not seen or heard any other more professional Female DJ’s ... “

Having started out as Radio DJ’s with regular shows for Enterprise Radio, Lazer FM, Metro Radio, P.C.R.L Radio, Lazer FM, Power FM, Unity FM and Galaxy Radio to name just some, Female Connection have progressed their careers as Club DJ’s winning many awards for best Female DJ Act. Performances alongside Shaka Demus & Pliers, David Rodian, General Levy, Mighty Spice, Marcia Griffith, Ken Booth, Tony Matterhorn, Method Man, Redman and many others have followed including juggling shows alongside international sound systems like Concrete Jungle and Budaddub Sound to name just a few. 

The Female Connection is a musical force to be reckoned with!

Lady Destiny

𝐏𝐂𝐑𝐋 𝐃𝐉 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲. Part of the Female Connection that was formed in 1991 and is the musical collaboration of Birmingham based Radio and Club DJ’s Sandra B and Lady Destiny. Both Ladies are of Jamaican origin which is where their deep understanding and love for Reggae and Dancehall music is rooted.

Female Connection play a variety of styles which include Reggae, Dancehall, Revival, R&B as well as Hip-Hop and Soul music, whereby they are at their best when it comes to playing dancehall music. Their unique playing style continues to attract interest also in the US and Jamaica. 

David Rodigan said about them : “… in 25 years I have not seen or heard any other more professional Female DJ’s ... “
Having started out as Radio DJ’s with regular shows for Enterprise Radio, Lazer FM, Metro Radio, P.C.R.L Radio, Lazer FM, Power FM, Unity FM and Galaxy Radio to name just some, Female Connection have progressed their careers as Club DJ’s winning many awards for best Female DJ Act. Performances alongside Shaka Demus & Pliers, David Rodian, General Levy, Mighty Spice, Marcia Griffith, Ken Booth, Tony Matterhorn, Method Man, Redman and many others have followed including juggling shows alongside international sound systems like Concrete Jungle and Budaddub Sound to name just a few. Now found in Sting radio. Photo: 1992. (Bio. from Facebook)

Ankhobia

𝐏𝐂𝐑𝐋 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐤𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚 joined us near the end of our broadcasting days having trained in media around 1999 and helped out on Talk-Back shows and did her own community programs with Tugstar. When the Station ended she joined New Style radio. She has her own pages on YouTube, with around 6.6K followers on this page:- Click here

Mr Niceness

𝐏𝐂𝐑𝐋 𝐃𝐉 𝐌𝐫. 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝟒-𝟓-𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟕. Joined us in 1980's and left during a radio 'shake-up' late in that decade, but returned again in the 1990's. He sadly passed away on 28th May 2008. A Facebook private memorial page has been set-up. This photograph was used on a 10th anniversary Show flyer commemorating his life in 2018.

RIEP KING, YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN YOUR LIFETIME FOR KEEP PUTTING-UP PCRL'S RADIO TRANSMITTERS. AFER EACH RAID BY THE BRITISH GOVERMNT AGENCY; DEPARTMENTOF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI) RAIDED AND SEIZED OUR BROADCASTING EQUIPMENT (SOME TIMES DAILY), 

REPECT TO YOU MR NICENESS - Cecil Morris

Lots of the time people will turn on the radio to hear good music but Niceness was one of those rare true radio personalities. If it was the dullest of days the sunshine would come out the radio when he came on. It didn't matter what he played - you were hooked because you always knew you were going to be entertained. Never forgotten. - Richie McCoy

Black History Award

 

There has been over 300 radio presenters trained by PCRL radio (C.R.T.Community Radio Training), to achieved this space in 'ourstory' and achievements I share this honour with thanks to all the PCRL radio presenters that made this happen, too many to mention, yes we made a change!