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DENNIS ROWE (born 1962)

Dennis Rowe is the founder and director of world famous reggae sound system Saxon Studio since 1976 and also he is the founder of London’s leading black power radio station GENESIS RADIO(since 1991).

When he was a teenager as a Box boy for Jah Shaka, his foundation of music ability was built upon. In 1975 D Rowe started his own sound system called Imperial Rockers with his lifetime music partner, Mussel Head and friends such as Billy Lathan, Curtis Henry Fitsroy Stewart and Michael Rennes. They played out hard on street parties and imposed ‘sound crash’ every weekend, so some people called them Bullying Sound. Because the crew were pure street gangs from South London, when they changed their name to SAXON SOUND in 1976 all the black youth in London dreamed to grab the microphone on SAXON SOUND to explore their talents. Continuing their work, in 1981 when D Rowe was 19 years old, they won their first Youthman Champion Cup Crash. In 1983 SAXON had a dance called “DJ Jamboree” held in Lewisham, which was a key element in finding original UK style DJs, such as Papa Levi, Smiley Culture, Daddy Colonel, Daddy Sandy, and Peter King etc. Their own unique style had taken SAXON to the national and international stage. Papa Levi “Mi God Mi King” in 1983 was the first ever UK artist to make it to the No.1 Jamaican Reggae charts. Smiley Culture “Police officer” in 1984 was No. 12 in the UK Top charts and he had regular TV contracts with Channel 4 on a show called 'Club Mix'. Tippa Irie “Hello Darling” was No. 22 in the UK Top charts in 1986. Maxi Priest started working with the best Jamaican producers Sly and Robbie in 1987 and he had international hits in 1990, "Close to You" was No.1 in the US Billboard Hot 100.By the early 80s SAXON had already created a platform for remarkable talents in the UK: their "Cockney English" and "fast chat" style used by the deejays - MC’s then are still influential towards the new generation of UK MC’s of Jungle to Drum 'n' Bass and Grime. But only D Rowe’s centripetal force enabled the creation of SAXON and kept their artistic quality alive. In the early 80s their own mix tapes became an instant phenomenon on the streets; hundreds of copies of SAXON mixed tapes scattered New Cross and Lewisham bus stops every weekend. Eventually the mix tapes flew to Jamaica, USA, and Africa through friends and relatives. In 1985 when D Rowe was still only 23 years old he received a direct telephone call from the USA music promoter that then became the legendary sound crash “Saxon Sound (UK) vs Third world (NY)” in Brooklyn, New York. He continued to manage international tours to USA, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, France, Germany, Bermuda, Sweden, Israel and Holland. When the reggae sound system scene reached its peak in the early 1990’s, they won their 1st UK Cup Crash in 1992. But the 1st ever World Sound Cup Crash in 1993 at the Roller Express in London, D Rowe said that the cup was robbed. A revenge World Sound Cup Crash at Sanctuary, Milton Keynes in the following year, 1994, an audience of 25000 witnessed SAXON SOUND win the cup once again. D Rowe made a further movement to start a black community radio station, GENESIS RADIO in 1991. It became the heart of the black community in London with quality music and conscious talk shows. His idea of “The peoples talk show”  for 4 hours on Sundy afternoon was clear: people can openly talk about issues to do with social, polotics, religion and race. The discussions explored the gap estrangement within any ideology in order to release from tied up minds or repugnant race issues. In 2002 Channel 4 broadcasted GENESIS RADIO on a documentary called “PIRATE”, reporting on how GENESIS RADIO stands as a testimony for the black community, existing as a backbone for the peoples values. Also he has a top notch instinct for finding music talent. So many great music presenters and DJs have their first DJ career from GENESIS RADIO offered by D Rowe. His respected work will continue out of necessity.