Ebony Rockers mural unveiled in Southampton today

Southampton artist Slam, who paints photo-realist murals worldwide, has finished a mural for Ebony Rockers on Ogle Road next to the Marlands Shopping Centre.

It was unveiled just after 12pm on Saturday and the event was attended by some members of the band.

Don John, race and diversity consultant, and Claire Whitaker OBE, Southampton City of Culture bid director, also attended.

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The mural acknowledges the impact Ebony Rockers had on the city.

Don said: “Ebony Rockers were an inspiration to local people in inner-city Southampton and gave the local Black communities something they could be proud of that reflected their culture”

In 1979 Ebony Rockers burst onto the South's music scene - bringing reggae out of the heart of inner-city Southampton.

The late 70s and early 80s were politically and socially vibrant times for African-Caribbean youth across the country.

It was against this background that eight teenagers from around the Newtown and Nicholson areas of Southampton began playing music - inspired by the reggae artists of the day and reflecting their own lives, conditions, and aspirations.

The original members, in their late teens when they got together, consisted of Duncan Carberry, George David, Ivan Dellimore, David Ellis (Eggy), Versell Gordon (Scratch), Rose Jones Bing Lewis and Neville Virgin - all living in the city's close-knit African-Caribbean community.

Tim Keeping, general manager at the Marlands said: "The landlord of the Marland’s Shopping Centre was keen to support this exciting piece of public art as it helps reinforce the centre as very much being the heart of community shopping in Southampton. 

"The Ebony Rockers deserve much more prominence in the history of contemporary music in Southampton and in this we are pleased to be able to play our part."