When Carlton McLeod and his brother Raymond started Stingray Records in London 30 years ago, he was not exactly wet behind the ears. He had learned the music business ropes from industry veteran Lloyd Evans.
Founder of Blue Mountain Music, Evans died on December 25 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. No cause of death was given, but he suffered for many years with diabetes.
McLeod, known in music circles as Dillie, said everything he knows about the music business is due to Evans.
“Lloyd Evans’ first love was for music, I learnt the whole process of recording studio to distributing and releasing music products to the world, from working for Lloyd Evans, from the late ‘80s. This led me to many trips to Jamaica where I made a solid link with record producer Bobby Digital and trips to New York to his (Evans) Toy Factory Recording Studio with his business partner Mel Holder in Queens,” McLeod recalled.
Blue Mountain Music released albums by a number of reggae and dancehall acts, including Sugar Minott, Tenor Saw, Frankie Paul, Culture, The Mighty Diamonds, Courtney Melody and Robert French. Evans was also instrumental in the development of the 809 Band which included saxophonist Dean Fraser and bassist Mikey Fletcher.
McLeod, whose parents are Jamaicans, was born in the United Kingdom. He operated Blue Mountain Records’ London office from 1987 to 1990 when the company closed shop there.
He said Evans was, “a very helpful man, he was always willing to help people who approached him with any business plan that looks or sounds good.”
Evans also operated the popular Grove Road venue in Kingston, which hosted some of the biggest dances in Jamaica during the 1990s.
The funeral service for Lloyd Evans is scheduled for January 18 in Kingston.
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