Last March, the Palmer brothers were among 12 reggae stalwarts honoured by the Brent City Council for their contribution to the music’s development in the United Kingdom.

Jeffrey, Harry and Carlyle were born in Clarendon. They operated a nightclub, real estate agency and Pama Records (later Jet Star Records) in the north-west London borough of Harlesden. The latter distributed reggae in the UK for 40 years until Jet Star was sold in 2008.

Carlyle, who is in his 80s, accepted the award on behalf of his family. His daughter, Kim Palmer, said it was an overdue acknowledgement that transcends music.

“In short, this is a great deal. The borough of Brent was where their businesses took root.

“It was this Caribbean community that Uncle Harry (Clarion) and Dad embraced with their Palmer Estate agency, fighting against the prevailing attitude at that time — No Blacks, No Irish, No dogs,” she told Observer Online.

Jamaican prime minister Edward Seaga (second left) with Carlyle Palmer (left), Olivia “Babsy” Grange and Anthony “Chips” Richards of Trojan Records. Occasion was the opening of Jet Star Records’ office at Acton Lane, Port Royal, London during the late 1980s.

Carlyle operated Jet Star with Beverley, his wife of 60 years who was with him at the Brent ceremony. The company distributed albums and songs throughout Europe by the biggest names in dancehall/reggae including Aswad, Barrington Levy, Cocoa Tea, Garnet Silk, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus and Pliers and Mr Vegas.

Kim Palmer said her father’s commercial and humanitarian achievements are remarkable considering he went to the UK on a ship by himself at age 16. He joined his brothers there at a time when that country’s economy was still recovering from the destruction of World War II.

“Dad didn’t do anything for recognition. His motivation was to make a difference, to make a positive change and to make progress,” she said. “However, if there was any profiling for himself or the company it was utilised for advancement. For example. Channel 4 televised a documentary on the Jamaican High Commission, and the three Jamaican couples they interviewed highlighted how Mr P had helped them in times of difficulty.”

Carlyle and Beverley Palmer returned permanently to Jamaica after living in the UK for 55 years. They live in Mandeville.
Harry Palmer left the music business and became a minister of religion. Like Carl, he lives in Mandeville. Jeffrey Palmer died in 2024.

The Brent Council’s presentations took place on March 17 and 20. Recipients were awarded plaques for their contribution to reggae in the United Kingdom. They also received street markers bearing their names, 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, Starlight Records, Trojan Records and producer/record label owner Sonny Roberts (posthumously) were the other honourees.