Papa Face

Reggae DJ, MC and club promoter based in London. Ran his own Brixton based sound system Mafia Black who played with and against all the top South London sounds in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Established a successful career as an artist with hits on Dub Vendor’s affiliated label Fashion Records, some featuring Bionic Rhona. In 1984 Papa Face and a full live band performed for John Peel as part of the ‘Peel Sessions’ at Maida Vale. During this time he had several Top Ten tunes in the Reggae Charts including ‘Dance Pon The Corner’ and ‘To The Bump’. He is also well known for working at London's Dub Vendor record shop. Soon after arriving at Dub Vendor as a customer, Papa Face was to be found working Saturdays on the other side of the counter. He and the owner John MacGillivray became friends and soon he was the first full time person to work in the Clapham Junction shop. John Dub Vendor introduced Papa Face to David Rodigan. From that day on Papa Face has worked alongside Rodigan DJing, MCing and hosting club nights. Together they established one of London’s longest running Saturday night reggae clubs, at Gossips in the West End, later going on to help running the legendary Rodigan’s Reggae at Subterrania and then Mass in Brixton.