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Music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards dies aged 31

Updated / Monday, 21 Feb 2022 11:41
Jamal Edwards, pictured in London in September 2019
Jamal Edwards, pictured in London in September 2019

The death has been announced of the British music entrepreneur and YouTube star Jamal Edwards at the age of 31.

He died suddenly on Sunday.

Jamal Edwards gained fame from setting up the new music platform SBTV, which helped to launch a string of UK music careers including Dave and Jessie J.

His mother is the Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, who finished fourth in the second series of the X Factor in 2005.

In a statement, released on the official Twitter account of ITV's Loose Women, she said: "It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister Tanisha, and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world.

"As we come to terms with his passing, we asked for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PhD."

Jamal Edwards was an ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a charity headed by Britain's Prince Charles, and in 2014 he was awarded an MBE for his services to music.

He was a teenager when he launched the youth broadcasting and production film channel SBTV to upload clips he had recorded of his friends performing on the estate where he lived in Acton, west London.

By 2014, he was reported to be a multi-millionaire and had worked with the likes of Jessie J, Emeli Sandé and Ed Sheeran.

Speaking after being made an MBE, he said he started SBTV to give his friends a platform.

He added: "It was a frustration of going to school and everyone talking about, 'How do we get our videos on MTV?'.

"YouTube was, like, a year old. I was like, 'I've got a camera for Christmas, I'm going to start filming people and uploading it'.

"Everyone was looking at me like, 'What are you doing? Like, you can compete with these major corporations', but I think I was early enough to believe that I could make a change."

In the same interview, he described his working relationship with musicians as "symbiotic".

"50% is the talent and 50% is the platform," he said.

"I try to focus on people that haven't got the platform. As well as getting a really well-known artist, I want to get the up-and-coming ones as well."

Tributes to Jamal Edwards have flooded social media, with many expressing their condolences to his mother.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall's Clarence House Twitter account shared a tribute that read: "Thinking of the family of Jamal Edwards today. His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Prince's Trust, were an inspiration to so many."

Loose Women's Denise Welch said: "My heart aches for my friend Brenda. I can't bear it. Jamal Edwards was a wonderful son and brother."

Bafta-winning actor, writer, director, and producer Adam Deacon, known for his leading role in Kidulthood, said he was "heartbroken" about Edwards' death.

He said on Twitter: "Today I was on set when I found out the tragic news that my good friend Jamal Edwards had passed away and I'm honestly heartbroken.

"Jamal was one of the nicest, most down to earth and humble men I've met in this industry. He always gave me time even when no one else would.

"He was an inspiration and what he achieved in life was truly remarkable. Thinking of his friends and family at this devastating time. RIP Jamal Edwards."

The official Youtube Twitter account said the industry had "lost a legend", adding: "Jamal Edwards was an inspiration to so many, supporting artists and shaping culture through @SBTVonline. Sending our condolences to Jamal's family & community."

Tributes also extended beyond the entertainment landscape, with Chelsea FC paying respects to the Blues fan.

The football club wrote on Twitter: "We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jamal Edwards. An inspiration to many, we're honoured that he was part of our Chelsea family.

"Our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved him."

Source: Press Association

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