Jamal Edwards tribute performance to feature Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, more

Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia and Max Cyrus are set to present special performances next week in honour of the late SBTV founder Jamal Edwards.

The performance, set to take place on 7th November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, will form part of this year’s Music Industry Trusts Award.

Confirming the plans to honour Edwards’ life and legacy, a press release said that the four artists”will each pay their own personal tribute to him with their performances. This will be a collective moment to celebrate Jamal, one of the industry’s most loved figures, and all of his achievements, the music careers he shaped and most importantly, the many lives he touched.”

In her own statement about Edwards, Mahalia said:”The first time I met Jamal, I was 12 in a field at Bestival. At first, he kind of looked at me like I was crazy and then he smiled and said, ‘go on, then’. A year later, he put me on SBTV for my first official online performance.

“He was one of the first people to truly believe in me and give me a platform and I will always feel somehow indebted to him for that. His impact on popular music and where the industry is today really can’t be overstated. Love you forever, Jam.”

Edwards passed away in February of this year at the age of 31. His mother, Brenda, later confirmed that his death was a result of cardiac arrhythmia”caused by having taken recreational drugs”.

As founder of SBTV, Edwards helped to launch and nurture the careers of numerous UK artists, including Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Dave. He was awarded an MBE in 2014 for his work in the music industry.