For reggae fans in the UK during the 1960s and 1990s, Harlesden was one of the music’s hubs. It was where artistes, musicians, music producers, and show promoters hung out.

Many of them were honoured with street markers on the Harlesden Walk of Music on March 17 and 20. The strip is similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Aswad, Dennis Brown (posthumously), General Levy, Janet Kay, the Ruff Cutt band, The Cimarons band, singer Delroy Washington (posthumously), Hawkeye Records, Jet Star Records, Starlight Records, Trojan Records, and producer/record label owner Sonny Roberts (posthumously) were honoured by the council of Brent in north-west London where Harlesden is located.

Coral J Reid, head of publicity and marketing for the Harlesden Walk of Music Project, told the Jamaica Observer that The Cimarons, Dennis Brown, Delroy Washington, Hawkeye Records, Jet Star Records, Sonny Roberts, Starlight Records, and Trojan Records were selected by “a thorough process of achievement, recognition and elimination”.

Aswad, Janet Kay, General Levy, and Ruff Kutt were selected based on a paper-based survey on the Brent Council’s website that ran from July 21 to September 14 2025.

The events were attended by Tony “Gad” Robinson, bass guitarist and original member of Aswad; The Cimarons; General Levy; Janet Kay; Carl Palmer, one of three brothers who operated Jet Star Records; Cleon Roberts, daughter of Sonny Roberts, who died in 2021; and Anthony “Chips” Richards, representing Trojan Records.

Yvonne Brown, widow of Dennis Brown — who lived for many years in the UK and died in 1999 — and two of their children were present for the unveiling of his plaque.

“The Harlesden Walk of Music, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, will link famous reggae musicians/producers to the previous and existing vinyl record shops and the proposed Reggae Museum in Picture Palace to be a physical footnote of public art and recognition,” said Reid.

— Howard Campbell