Windrush Top 20 released ahead of 75th anniversary of first arrival in Essex
Boney M, Stormzy and UB40 are some of the artists included
Music legends are featured in a new Windrush Top 20, that's been released to celebrate 75 years since the Windrush first arrived in Britain.
Boney M, Stormzy and Craig David are among the musicians included, as well as acts such as Beverley Knight and UB40.
The HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948, and is being recognised in it's 75th anniversary year with many celebrations, starting with the Windrush Top 20.
The feature, complied by the Windrush 75 network, dates back to the same year, starting off with ‘the grand master of calypso’ Lord Kitchener.
He performed a specially-written song – London Is the Place for Me – live on a report for Pathé News as he stepped off the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948.
The Windrush 75 Network is bringing organisations together to celebrate on 22 June, and has been overseen by by Mykaell Riley, director of the Black Music Research Unit and PI for Bass Culture Research at the University of Westminster.
He said: ‘It’s a great list which scratches the surface of a hugely important cultural contribution. In many ways, it's a teaser to what lies beyond the beats, melodies and songs that have found their way into so many lives.’
Greatest Hits Radio spoke with Liz Mitchell, the original lead singer of Boney M, who have sold more than 100 million records.
Boney M are included in the playlist. She said: "I am glad they acknowledged the fact that we are of the Windrush generation's children, meaning Marcia Barrett, myself and Maizie Williams.
"And these songs are milestones, not just for Windrush generation artists, it's world songs."
"When I think about Windrush, I think about my Dad, and the stories he tells and his survival. and the whole of his story. Then my story joined to that - it's a lifetime. It's the story of someone's life 75 years on."
She was flown over from Jamaica as an 11-year-old schoolgirl for an emotional reunion with parents at Waterloo station in 1964 before starting a new life in Harlesden, London.
Liz said: "I had to get to know my brothers and my sisters who were born here, and the journey for me, learning about this new world and this new country, and all the people and everything was not easy."
The playlist kicks off a variety of celebrations that will be taking place to commemorate and celebrate the first arrival of the Windrush.
Liz Mitchell told us: "I've never seen any celebration without music. Music is so important and I think that of course we can celebrate in conversation, that is very important, but after we talk, we play the music.
"We reminisce on what was shared, because this is what musicians do, they're sharing their heart and their souls with the people, and I'm very happy that I'm a part of the list."
The HMT Empire Windrush first arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June 1948, bringing around 1,000 passengers from the Caribbean.
The Windrush 75 Network was set up to bring together organisations committed to marking the 75th anniversary as a major national moment.
Working with charity British Future – experts on integration, immigration, race and identity – the initiative will also help explain why Windrush 75 matters in the context of modern Britain.
Windrush 75 Network convenor Patrick Vernon said: ‘The Windrush generation and those who followed have made a massive contribution to so many aspects of British life, from sport and culture to business, public services and faith.
‘Our popular culture and music in particular is immensely richer because of this Black British influence. We’re celebrating that with the Windrush Top 20 and it’s something we want everyone to celebrate across the UK as we mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush this year.’
The Windrush 75 Top 20 playlist:
Lord Kitchener: London Is the Place for Me (1948)
Winifred Atwell: Let's Have Another Party (1954)
The Southlanders: The Mole in a Hole (1958)
Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop (1964)
The Equals: Baby Come Back (1968)
Cymande: Brothers on the Slide (1974)
Billy Ocean: Love Really Hurts Without You (1976)
Boney M: Sunny (1976)
Janet Kay: Silly Games (1979)
- The Selecter: Three Minute Hero (1980)
- UB40: One in Ten (1981)
- Loose Ends: Hangin' on a String (Contemplating) (1985)
- Soul II Soul: Keep on Movin’ (1989)
- Massive Attack: Unfinished Sympathy (1991)
- Goldie: Inner City Life (1994)
- Craig David: Rewind (1999)
- Beverley Knight: Shoulda Woulda Coulda (2002)
- Wretch 32: Don’t Go (2011)
- Stormzy: Blinded by Your Grace, pt.2 (2017)
- Little Simz: Woman (2021)