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Music man Dread Lester dies at 54
Wednesday 30th December 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
A leading Wolverhampton musician and youth worker who worked with artists including Beverley Knight and Goldie has died suddenly.
Jamaica-born Lester Samuels, affectionately known as ‘Dread Lester’ due to his dreadlocks, died at his home in Newbridge on December 27.
The 54-year-old had previously been admitted to the city’s New Cross Hospital after suffering arm and chest pains. .
The father-of-seven became chief engineer for the Sam Sharpe Music Project in 1993. The Broad Street recording studio was set up by the Probation Service to help young black offenders and is now based at Newhampton Arts Centre in Whitmore Reans.
The recording facilities were used by many up-and-coming groups over the years, including Babylon Zoo, Midnite Runners, Mighty Lemon Drops, and Birmingham poet Yusuf. As well as the Sam Sharpe music workshops, Mr Samuels’ other initiatives included showcasing local acts, organising gigs, the music festival in East Park which became Wolvestock, and a concert night for budding female musicians.
Mr Samuels followed in the footsteps of his musician father, Joseph Samuels, who was an accomplished guitarist and banjo player in the Caribbean.
His band regularly played at banquets for big-name figures such as Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, William Bustamante, James Bond creator Ian Fleming, and actor Errol Flynn.
Long-standing friend and colleague Ray Lewis, 55, said today: “Lester had a knack for bringing out the best in young people. He worked in some of the toughest youth clubs in Wolverhampton. He was a 6ft 7in tall, charismatic gentle giant.” Mr Lewis, of Lower Penn, met Mr Samuels in the army cadets when he was 14. The pair later served in the Territorial Army for 10 years, before starting up a band called The Sons of David.
After leaving Jamaica for Marston Road, Wolverhampton, in 1963, Mr Samuels attended St Luke’s and Graiseley primary schools.
Mr Samuels leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Shirley, and their daughters, Dania, 33, Jahmara, 27, Sherlina, 26, Dominique, 21, and Shanice, 17.
He has two daughters from a previous marriage, Melinda, 34, and Lorraine, 37, and three grandchildren. Mrs Samuels said: “He loved his community and his family. He loved life. Lester would do anything for anybody – rich or poor, black or white, it didn’t matter. Everybody was equal to him.” The funeral date has not yet been set.
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Such a sad loss to the community!
What a great person and musician and friend!
Rest in peace ol’ buddy, you will be missed!
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A very sad day, Lester was one of Wolverhampton’s finest individuals. My condolences to his family.
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RIP a role model in its purest sense.
A joy to work with tith in the studio who will be missed.
Ashley
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it is very sad news at the passing of lester.
i worked with lester in the youth service from 1995 to 2000. he was an inspirational youth worker who used music as a vehicle for reaching and developing young people.
He always had a positive attitude and if you were in a room with lester he always made a positive vibe for all around him.
i did not know that lester had helped such big names,as lester didnt mention it. he was a modest man who enthusiastically had a passion for music and helping anyone who had an interest in music and performance.
i send my condolenses to his family,and children.
rest in peace lester
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A true inspiration, a great friend and the finest ambassador for Wolverhampton.
Lester was a great man.
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I have known dred Lester since he came to England in 1963. He was my next door neighbour and best friend when living with his Mom and Dad in Marston Road . We were in the Army Cadets together with Ray Lewis and others.We both ended up working for the Youth Service for over 20 years plus.He was an inspiration to the young people he came in contact with. My sincere condolences to his wife and children and the rest of the
Samuels family.
Rest in peace my good friend.
Errol Bryan (Brainey)
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I remember Lester From Sam Sharpe Project Studios underneath Piccaso’s/ Quest!
I am gutted to hear of his death and i feel for his children.
He was such an insprirational guy, with music being his heartbeat!!!
If you loved music, then Lester loved you, simple as that!
Letser has helped many artists over the years, the obvious ones mentioned, but there are still many uncovered talents out there that he has and will inspire….
R.I.P
DREAD!!!!
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you will be missed my freind
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RIP Mr Music man, lester will be sadly missed.
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I have worked with Lester many times he was a true professional and a gentleman.a sad loss to the local youths and community.
RIP Lester
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A big man with a big talent and an even bigger heart. What a big loss to Wolverhampton.
My feelings go out to Shirley and his children.
There will never be another Dread to take his place.
The whole of the city who new him will mourn this sad loss.
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Loves Lester to bits, what a man, what a legend!!!
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Wow.. hard to believe he’s gone.
He really helped support my band, really got us motivated.
RIP Lester, you were such a legend, won’t be the same around Sam Sharpes without you.
From everyone at Virtuous Blood,
X
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A terrible loss to the wolverhampton community!!- Lester was a fine individual who always saw the best in each and everyone!
My condolences to his family!!
R.I.P Lester
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R.I.P Lester though I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting you, I am more than assured by my friends that you was a very great soul.
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Anyone who came in contact with Dread Lester and could sing a note in key, he looked at them with the potential of being a star. His first words were “Come a di studio”.
This not only gave some unsigned talents an aim and objective but also confidence and self esteem.
Dread Lester was a loving father and loved visiting and keeping in touch with family members in Jamaica. His love for music and people cannot be measured. He also had a passion for Badmington
I write this with simple tears in my eyes to know that at my time of “Franchise House” Sam Sharpe recording working with “Skanki, Ian, George, Muppet and Streamline girls Maxine and Jackie” too many to mention we all work as a team.
Lester made it possible for me to perform at West Park Festival and other gigs. I look back and I can only thank him for making it possible where others failed because he believed in me.
I pray for the Samuels family, his wife Shirley and for the girls who have lost their father, those whom have lost a friend and those who have lost a brother and for me and my brothers and sisters we have lost our unforgetable cousin
His favourite song that I wrote was “Pitta Patter”
RIP Lester
From the Duffus/Jackson family
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Lester it was a honour to have known and worked with you over many years. I live in the knowledge that my life was all the better after meeting you. Goodnight Lester and Rest in Peace.
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It still hasnt sunk in, that you have gone, you were a great inspiration to me, and you were one of the people that gave me a taste for the entertainment industry, and you were a great supporter of events that i was involved in. Wolverhampton has lost a great friend and a legend, you shall not be forgotten, always in our hearts.
One Love , RIP may God take care of you now x
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R.I.P DREAD LESTER DA REAL BIG MAN OV SAM SHARPE MUSIC N SLR 94.2 YOW POW POW.
ME N DE MAN REASON INA A DE SUMMER WHEN I LAST VISITED WOLVES.
WE GONNA TRUELY MISS YU MAN.MI A HIM FAVOURITE LYRICAL KILLING ARTIST.
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My dad was a legend in Wolverhampton,Birmingham Even down London everyone who knew him knew he had a heart of gold,he loved his life and life loved him…God took My Angel x
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You will be missed, sad loss for w-ton. My prayers to your family.
R.I.P.
Love Jennifer and Dougy Texas USA.
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Dread lester was a beacon for all that was good. A big man with the softest of hearts and the kindest of words.. my brother and i are truly shocked at this profoundly sad news. May you now walk gently in heaven with the angels!! Rest in peace brother. x
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Lester & I have worked together on the Unity Event at West Park for the last 16 years and he will be proud to know he is held in such high regard.
Lord only knows what I am going to do without my “Long drink of Water”. I miss him badly.
Unity 2010 will be held in dedication of his memory & I hope to hear from performers past & current to give the the musical send off he deserves. You all know where to reach me so please get in touch.
R.I.P my brother
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couldnt believe when i heard the news and still cant may you rest in peace lester. i am proud to say that i knew lester when going to sam sharpe as a young person and than more recently as a youth worker in the Youth Service. He will be a massive loss to music and young people of Wolves….. rest in peace legend !!!
my thoughts go out to his family
Laura Brewster
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I am shocked to of heard of this sad news that Lester has passed away you will be missed by many people in Wolverhampton. It has been a great privilege to of worked with him.
My thoughts are with the family at this sad time time
Andrea R
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I was in shock when heard it seem like only yesterday we were kids together.
Rest in peace Lester a true diamond is lost.
My sincere condolences to his wife and children and the rest of the Samuels family.
Pauline Fairclough
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Lester was a true inspiration to me.Lester got me on the right track in life and was my mentor when i was young.He taught me a lot about music and life in general.I will sadly miss the great man.R.I.P Dread.
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Lester Brought joy and friendship into many lives
including the young man I support with special needs, Lester spent many hours in the studio with
Michael who is Autistic and they had a way of communicating that only they understood.
Lester was a bright light in this young mans life and we will miss him dreadfully.
I hope that Lester knew how much he meant to (shmichael) as he called him,
Thank you for all those happy hours Lester,we will all be lost without you
deepest condolences to the family
Rose,Ann,and Shmichael.
Sleep Sweetly big man
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I met the Dread in 1978 at a party. He was rapping on the mike and it just took me back to when I was in Jamaica. I couldn’t resist but ask him if I could have a go, and he said yes. After, we got talking and it turned out that we were from two close villages in St Thomas, Jamaica. Lester was from Seaforth and I was from Font Hill.
Music connected us together. In 1996 I recorded my first single at his studio, ‘Que Sound Studios’.
We both also shared a passion for Badminton, especially doubles. When Lester’s partner Teacher and My partner Steadford Brown hit the court we took no prisoners!!!
I can’t believe that I’m now going to have to talk about Leister in the past tense. He was such an inspiration to me and to a lot of other people from all walks of life. A man who held family values with the highest regards. When barriers went up, he removed them and made things possible. Lester told me a story of a young lad that came to Sam Sharp to record a song. The song contained such violence on his take on life to a degree of where his lyrics described a ship sailing on an ocean of blood, Lester said, ‘he had to talk and reason with him’. A couple of days later the young lad returned with some great lyrics about how the world should unite and how people should help each other.
Wolverhampton has lost one of its most influential and inspirational unsung characters. Lester your work here is done and you have been seconded to another world to continue your good work.
God bless.
Donchez
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Lester ‘Ranny’ was a role model, and inspiration to many, but most of all, he was a loving brother. I can’t believe he’s gone, but I know he will be with us always, in our hearts – One Love ‘Ranny’ – love you always x
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