Admiral Ken Sound System
Object
Framed photograph
Production date
1975
Object number
2010.33
Physical Description
Photograph by Dennis Morris entitled 'Admiral Ken Sound System', taken on Club Row, Shoreditch.
Object history
This photo by Dennis Morris shows men loading a van with a sound system. The man standing in the van on the left is Dennis Andries, a boxer. Morris moved to London from Jamaica when he was 5 and lived in Dalston. He took up photography at an early age and recorded life in Hackney in the 1960s and 70s before becoming the official photographer for the band 'Bob Marley and the Wailers' at the age of 15.
Personal experiences
The Blues Dance was vital to the community. People met in each other’s houses. Each area had its own sound system hero. In Hackney we had ‘Admiral Ken’... Admiral Ken is pictured in the foreground with his ‘boxmen’. They loaded and unloaded the speaker boxes and amps. The man on the far left is Dennis Andries who went on to become world light heavy-weight champion in 1986; the only Brit to face the Hit-man.
Dennis Morris
Dennis Morris
The man 2nd from left is 'Henry', a DJ who lived on Palatine Road. He lived with the man to his right, Frederick Howell, who rapped as part of the set. Mr Ken Edwards, or 'Admiral Ken', was a nightclub owner/producer who owned venues around Hackney, including the Palace Pavilion. The four men used to perform together, at venues including the Four Aces and Hackney Town Hall.
Associated Event
Associated Person
Dennis Morris (Photographer)
Material
photo
Exhibition Label
From 'Growing Up Black'
The Blues Dance was vital to the community. People met in each other’s houses. Each area had its own sound system hero. In Hackney we had ‘Admiral Ken’... Admiral Ken is pictured in the foreground with his ‘boxmen’. They loaded and unloaded the speaker boxes and amps. The man on the far left is Dennis Andries who went on to become world light heavy-weight champion in 1986; the only Brit to face the Hit-man.
Dennis Morris
The Blues Dance was vital to the community. People met in each other’s houses. Each area had its own sound system hero. In Hackney we had ‘Admiral Ken’... Admiral Ken is pictured in the foreground with his ‘boxmen’. They loaded and unloaded the speaker boxes and amps. The man on the far left is Dennis Andries who went on to become world light heavy-weight champion in 1986; the only Brit to face the Hit-man.
Dennis Morris
From 'Roots, Rhythms & Records: The sounds and stories of African & Caribbean music in Hackney'
Admiral Ken’s Sound System
Admiral Ken is pictured in the foreground with his ‘boxmen’. They loaded and unloaded the speaker boxes and amplifiers.
Mr Ken Edwards, or ‘Admiral Ken’, was a nightclub owner/producer who owned venues around Hackney, including Dougies in Clapton, which later became Palace Pavilion.
Admiral Ken’s Sound System
Admiral Ken is pictured in the foreground with his ‘boxmen’. They loaded and unloaded the speaker boxes and amplifiers.
Mr Ken Edwards, or ‘Admiral Ken’, was a nightclub owner/producer who owned venues around Hackney, including Dougies in Clapton, which later became Palace Pavilion.
Credit line
©Dennis Morris www.dennismorris.com
On display?
Yes