This is the extraordinary moment the bereft mother of Jamal Edwards summoned the strength to sing at the candlelit vigil held in her son’s honour last night.
Brenda Edwards sang the Whitney Houston hit ‘Greatest Love of All’ to hushed crowds who gathered to remember the music impresario’s life, after his sudden death aged 31.
Singing through a megaphone last night, she sang the words ‘I believe the children are the future. Learning to love yourself – it is the greatest love of all’, reducing the crowd to tears less than 36 hours after she is understood to have found her eldest son dead in his room. Friends told MailOnline yesterday they believe he had suffered a ‘sudden’ cardiac arrest after a night DJing in the West End.
And in another poignant moment, after finishing her song, Brenda addressed the mourners and said she hoped that Jamal’s death would help unite their community.
She said: ‘If we can do anything in 2022, can we please bring the community together. Stop the fighting. Stop the killing. And build up our community. We are not supposed to be losing our young people. If you see something happening. Try to stop it please’. Police have confirmed there is no suggestion that violence played a part in Jamal’s death, describing it as a non-suspicious ‘medical emergency’.
Brenda, a Loose Women panellist who finished fourth in the second series of The X Factor, is mourning Jamal’s death with his sister Tanisha. The YouTube star, 31, passed away after performing at Bubba Oasis in Angel on Saturday night.
The Metropolitan Police have said they were called to the family home at just before 10.30am on Sunday. His sudden death is being treated as non-suspicious but unexplained, meaning it will likely be referred to the coroner for an inquest into the cause of his death.
‘Police were called by the London Ambulance Service’, a Scotland Yard spokesman said, adding: ‘A 31-year-old man had suffered a medical emergency and had been pronounced dead at the scene. Officers attended and determined that the circumstances were not suspicious. The man’s death is being treated as unexplained’.
Jamal Edwards’ heartbroken mother Brenda sings to the crowds at the vigil in his memory in Acton, West London, last night
Brenda Edwards, the Loose Women star Brenda Edwards (pictured together on the show in November 2021), said she and his family and friends are all devastated
Crowds of fans gathered at a candlelit vigil in West London last night to pay tribute to music mogul Jamal Edwards following his sudden death at the age of 31. Above: The crowds on Acton high street
Bubba Oasis paid their respect on Monday afternoon to Jamal Edwards, saying they were ‘absolutely devastated to hear’ the news and ‘we will miss him forever’
How Jamal Edwards launched the careers of some of Britain’s biggest stars from a YouTube channel set up in his bedroom when he was 15 and working in Topman
Little Mix on SBTV in 2012
Jamal was 15 when his mother Brenda bought him extra special Christmas present – a £200 video camera.
YouTube had just been launched and Jamal, who like most teenagers spent hours in his bedroom online, decided to upload some footage of foxes in his back garden. ‘I thought I was Steve Irwin,’ he said in an interview with MailOnline.
But when the footage got 1,000 views, he realised he was on to something.
He went out on to the estate and made some clips of his friends, most of whom were into grime – the music style now defined by stars such as Dizzee Rascal and Skepta.
‘Back then, there was no place to showcase our sort of spitting and rapping, so I thought, OK, I want to create that platform,’ he said. He took his own rap moniker ‘Smokey Barz’ to coin his brand name and SBTV was born.
Jamal was not an overnight success, and Brenda had no idea that her son would be hailed as a 21st-century pioneer.
From her vantage point, she had a boy who had struggled at school, was being threatened with expulsion from his college and needed a reality check about the world of work.
When he was 17, Brenda marched him into a branch of Topman and demanded that they give him a job.
‘It was so embarrassing. They were saying, ‘We don’t have any jobs going,’ but she wouldn’t take no for an answer,’ he says. ‘She said, ‘I don’t care, he’ll work for free, you have to take him on.’ And they agreed, probably because they wanted to get rid of her.’
Jamal began his Topman career as a shop assistant but at the same time started hanging out at the BBC, sneaking into raves and messaging record labels to beg for interview time with their artists. His big break came three years later when he secured his first non-grime interview with Kelly Rowland.
From that, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz and countless other A-listers followed. In 2011, he was invited to 10 Downing Street to interview the prime minister after being appointed a Spirit of London Awards ambassador.
Jamal was still hands-on with both filming and editing at SBTV, and had big plans to expand the brand into sport, comedy and fashion.
Away from work his great passion was Chelsea FC.
Last night crowds of fans and loved-ones gathered at a candlelit vigil in west London to pay tribute to music mogul Jamal.
The SBTV founder gained fame after setting up the new music platform in 2006, and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts to stardom, including Ed Sheeran, Dave and Jessie J. Mourners lined the streets on Monday evening next to the mural of Mr Edwards on Acton High Street.
His friends said relatives had told them he was found by his mother, who called London Ambulance Service who dispatched two paramedics but could not save him.
It comes as tributes continued to flood in for the iconic artist, with Jessie J saying her ‘heart is broken’ and adding: ‘I love you.’
Bubba Oasis also paid their respect on Monday afternoon, saying they were ‘absolutely devastated to hear’ the news and ‘we will miss him forever’.
Meanwhile the hosts of Loose Women broke down live on air as they described their grief after the death of the DJ – who was the son of their co-star Brenda Edwards.
Charlene White’s voice cracked and Judi Love wiped away tears as they described visiting her at her home yesterday, hours after his death was announced.
And in a tribute from the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Clarence House tweeted: ‘Thinking of the family of Jamal Edwards today.
‘His work in music but also as an ambassador for a new generation, including his work for The Prince’s Trust, were an inspiration to so many.’
Dozens of friends who had grown up with Edwards laid flowers below a mural on a wall in honour of his contribution to the local community.
They claimed he had suffered a sudden heart attack in the early hours of Sunday morning at his home which he shares with his mother in Acton.
Dwayne, who attended Acton High School with him told MailOnline: ‘The details are still a still not clear but we’ve been told that it was a heart attack.
‘He was out DJing on Saturday night and eventually got home in the early hours of Sunday morning. The family are still trying to come to terms with it all, but we’ve heard that his mum found him in his bedroom and called an ambulance.’ Another friend added: ‘Jamal lives with his mum and came home late after DJing on Saturday night.
‘We’ve heard from relatives that he had a sudden heart attack but what caused it, I just don’t know. I saw him a couple of days ago and he was absolutely fine, laughing and joking.’
Jerry, another friend said: ‘Jamal is a legend in this part of West London, and this has hit us all really hard. For him to go so suddenly in the prime of his life, when he was doing so much is truly shocking.’
London Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to a house at 9.34am on Sunday and two paramedics in fast response cars and an advanced paramedic in critical care.
But a spokesman said: ‘Sadly, despite the efforts of medics, a person died at the scene.’ Tributes continued to flood in for the celebrated artist, with Jessie J writing on Instagram: ‘Your light. Your ideas. Your work ethic. Your laugh.
‘Your care for every person you met was unmatched. But your friendship… Phew. That’s why my heart is broken. We had plans bro. I can’t believe this is real. I love you @jamaledwards.’
She also shared clips showing her and Edwards appearing on Channel 4 series Gogglebox together and a screenshot of a text exchange in which she told the music entrepreneur, ‘Miss you.’
Bubba Oasis, where the DJ performed from 7.30pm until about 11.30pm – half an hour earlier than billed – paid a touching tribute to the star on Facebook.
It said: ‘All of us at Bubba Oasis are absolutely devastated to hear that Jamal Edwards has passed and we will miss him forever.
‘He was a legend, constantly in demand, but he always made time for those who are still trying to make their way, just like us.
‘He generously gave up his time to come here on Saturday night and weave his magic for us all, bringing joy and laughs to everyone in the room.
‘We were beyond touched that he would support us in this way and will never forget the smiles he brought to everyone. Godspeed Jamal, we promise a light will always shine for you here at Bubba Oasis.’
Owner Rob Huysinga added to MailOnline: ‘We had a great night. Jamal made everybody smile and brought a lot of joy to all of those that were there, as he usually does.
‘He finished at around 11.30pm and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. It was just Jamal being his incredible, wonderful self.
‘He had a great, positive energy which all of us felt that night felt it. We are all devastated because of what’s happened, it’s really shocking.’
The YouTube star, 31, passed away on Sunday morning at the address in Acton, west London, after performing at Bubba Oasis in Angel on Saturday night. He is pictured at his gig at Soho House in White City on Friday night
It comes as tributes continued to flood in for the iconic artist, with Jessie J saying her ‘heart is broken’ and adding: ‘I love you’
Dozens of friends who had grown up with Edwards laid flowers below a mural on a wall in honour of his contribution to the local community. Pictured: The house he shared with his mother
Judi Love wipes away tears on the Loose Women show dedicated to Jamal Edwards, the British YouTube star who launched the careers of many stars
Charlene White looked to the sky and her voice broke as she described Brenda Edwards’ love for her son – and their love for her
Earlier Brenda Edwards, a Loose Women panellist who found fame finishing fourth on the X Factor in 2005, revealed her ‘beautiful’ and ‘inspirational’ music impresario son died aged 31 from a ‘sudden illness’.
And in an emotional Loose Women show dedicated to Jamal, Ms White opened the show by saying: ‘Brenda had so much love for both Jamal and her daughter Tanisha. Her heart is full of love for them. So you’ll know just how shocked Brenda is, and just how hard it has hit those who knew him and of course all of us who love Brenda’.
She added: ‘It’s hit us hard. Judi has joined us on the panel because we want to do Brenda proud. You and I were with her last night’. Judi Love then added: ‘If I’m honest I don’t want to be here doing this but we have to. It’s heartbreaking. All we can do is try and do our best to support Brenda and honour her amazing son. We just wanted to be there for her yesterday’.
The YouTube star launched the careers of scores of young British artists including megastars Ed Sheeran and Stormzy while also dedicating himself to charitable works including with Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry. In 2014 he was awarded an MBE for services to music.
In a statement read out by Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain, Brenda said: ‘It is with deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness. Myself, his sister and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world’.
She added: ‘As we come to terms with the passing we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support. Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA and PHD.’
His friend, Hollywood star Idris Elba, posted a black square on Instagram and wrote: ‘We lost one @jamaledwards You will be missed little brother.’
Former prime minister David Cameron, now chairman of the National Citizen Service’s Board of Patrons, tweeted: ‘My thoughts & prayers are with the family of Jamal Edwards MBE. He was a great friend to @NCS & a valued Patron, supporting & inspiring young people to be the best they could be, leading from the front & showing what’s possible with hard work & determination. Such a sad loss.’
Sir Richard Branson, who penned the foreword for Edwards’ 2013 book, Self Belief: The Vision, added: ‘So sad to hear about the passing of Jamal Edwards MBE. What a loss of a truly extraordinary young man who made a huge difference to so many people’s lives.’
Jamal Edwards wished his friend Ed Sheeran a happy birthday from Marbella, Spain, three days ago. His death aged 31 has been put down to a sudden illness
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, also paid tribute to Jamal after his tragic death
Prince William and Prince Harry and Jamal Edwards pose for a twitter picture Queen’s Young Leaders Programme Launch at Buckingham Palace in 2014
Away from the world of music he was an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity headed by the Prince of Wales. The charity paid tribute
Jamal Edwards with his Member of the British Empire (MBE), after it was awarded to him by the Prince of Wales at an Investiture Ceremony, at Buckingham Palace in central London in March 2015
Mr Edwards gained fame from setting up new music platform SB.TV – helping to launch a string of UK music careers including Ed Sheeran
A young Ed Sheeran appears on SBTV in 2010 in a clip that now has 11m views on YouTube alone
Jessie J also appeared on SBTV in 2010 and Stormzy first appeared on the YouTube channel in 2012. Both went on to be stars
Idris Elba and Simon Cowell are the latest entertainment heavyweights to pay tribute to Jamal Edwards as heartfelt messages about the entrepreneur, who died aged only 31, pour in
Idris Elba, Simon Cowell and JLS star Oritse Williams are the latest entertainment figures to pay tribute to SBTV founder Jamal Edwards, who last week died aged only 31.
The entrepreneur helped launch the careers of acts including Dave, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J through his influential online platform, which he founded in 2006 as a YouTube channel.
Elba took to Instagram to post a black square with the caption: ‘We lost one @jamaledwards You will be missed little brother.’
Poppy Delevingne left a comment under the post, with three emojis of a heart breaking in half.
Elba also posted another photo which showed the mural in Edward Street in Acton, London made in honour of Edwards, saying: ‘Your spirit lives my guy.’
JLS singer Williams shared a photo of them together at a Prince’s Trust event, adding: ‘Both were cracking up saying I looked like Guile from Street Fighter.
‘So many memories. You will be dearly missed my brotha. Rest easy.’
Music mogul Simon Cowell also shared a tribute to late industry powerhouse in a tweet.
He said: ‘I had the pleasure of meeting @jamaledwards. He was an extraordinarily talented young man, so ambitious, a real entrepreneur and had a natural gift for talent.
‘I was so very sorry to hear about his passing. I’m sending my love to his family. Rest in peace, Jamal. Much love, Simon.’
In another tribute post, rapper Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, praised Edwards for his ‘genuine’ kindness and positivity.
He said: ‘I don’t know how you always had the positive energy you did, how you were always everywhere doing more and more to help others wherever possible.
‘Neutral with no agenda, so, so kind and genuine, not one of the many ‘professionally nice’ people who switch it on and off, you shon bro.
‘Thank you for everything, and may your family feel all the love we all have for you.’
Jamal’s final Instagram post was a tribute to his ‘life brother’ Ed Sheeran. He wished his friend a happy birthday three days ago, sharing a picture of the friends together, captioned Marbella, Spain.
He wrote: ‘Happy Birthday to the OG, Ed. Blessed to have you in my life brother.
#You know you’ve been mates a long time when you lose count on the years! Keep smashing it & inspiring us all G!’
Mr Edwards’ death was revealed by his manager yesterday morning, but the cause of his death, a sudden illness, was not confirmed until his mother spoke out yesterday.
The entrepreneur gained fame and fortune from setting up new music platform SB.TV at the age of 15 using a £200 camcorder and a PC in his bedroom in Acton where he lived with his mother Brenda, stepfather Patrick and younger sister Tanisha.
Jamal never knew his father, who was in a brief relationship with his mother when she became pregnant, aged 20.
Born in Luton, before moving to West London, he helped to launch a string of UK music careers including Sheeran’s as well as Stormzy, Emeli Sandé, Dave and Jessie J, building a £8million fortune and allowing him to leave the West London estate he grew up on and move to a plush Thames-side apartment.
His online broadcasting company has had more than 200million hits on YouTube. Global entertainment stars such as Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre invited Jamal to join them on their tours, while an advert featuring Jamal as the face of Google Chrome and his extraordinary success had more hits than one with Justin Bieber.
Away from the world of music he was an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity headed by the Prince of Wales, and in 2014 he was awarded an MBE for his services to music.
As well as supporting Prince Charles’ charitable works, he also worked with his sons William and Harry.
Loose Women’s Charlene White addressed the manner in which Edwards’ death had been announced, sharing a message from his mother with viewers.
She said: ‘Brenda gave a statement this morning which I will read some of, and the reason why I am going to read some of this is because the opportunity to share Brenda’s loss and the family’s loss – that was taken away from Brenda because of various people on social media who decided to tell Brenda’s story, and to tell Jamal’s story without consulting Brenda, which was not fair in any shape or form.’
Describing Edwards as a ‘powerhouse’ who changed the UK music scene, White added: ‘But what people have to understand is there is work life and there is family life and there is home life – and it should have been Brenda who was able to choose when she wanted the world to know about her loss and that was taken away from her.’
Jamal had six GCSEs – including three D grades and one E. But thanks to his mother’s insistence, he also has a diploma in moving-image media production from his sixth-form college.
And from this inauspicious start he turned himself into a social-media phenomenon. His online broadcasting company SBTV, which he started in 2006 by uploading clips of his friends performing rap music, has, to date, had more than 200million hits on YouTube.
Jamal recently lived in a Thames-side apartment part of a gated complex just three miles from the Acton estate in West London where he spent his formative years.
Tributes to Edwards have flooded social media with many expressing their condolences to his mother, the Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards who finished fourth in the second series of the X Factor in 2005.
Loose Women’s Denise Welch said: ‘My heart aches for my friend Brenda. I can’t bear it. Jamal Edwards was a wonderful son and brother.’
Bafta-winning actor writer, director, and producer Adam Deacon, known for his leading role in Kidulthood, saying he was ‘heartbroken’ about the death of Mr Edwards.
He said on Twitter: ‘I was on set when I found out the tragic news that my good friend Jamal Edwards had passed away and I’m honestly heartbroken.
‘Jamal was one of the nicest, most down to earth and humble men I’ve met in this industry. He always gave me time even when no one else would.
‘He was an inspiration and what he achieved in life was truly remarkable. Thinking of his friends and family at this devastating time. RIP Jamal Edwards.’
Jamal with his friend Rita Ora, who praised the belief he had in her and many other British acts
Jamal’s work in music and with charities made him many famous names including Bill Clinton and Cara Delevingne
Jamal with Naomi Campbell. They worked together at various events in charity
Will.i.am and Jamal Edwards attend a private dinner in London. Jamal was also football mad, pictured with his Chelsea hero Frank Lampard
Comedian Mo Gilligan, who hosted the Brit Awards earlier this month, called Edwards a ‘truly humble and blessed soul’.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Your legacy will live on for years & you’ve inspired a whole generation. Rest easy Jamal Edwards.’
Che Wolton Grant, better known by his stage name AJ Tracey, also took to Twitter to vent his grief.
The rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Ladbroke Grove, west London, said: ‘RIP Jamal Edwards, West London legend status.’
Singer Rita Ora said in an Instagram post that she was devastated at the news, writing: ‘My first ever interview was with you. Jamal, Our endless talks on music and the belief you had in me and so many of us before we even believed in ourselves. I’m devastated.
‘No words can describe how grateful I am to of been in your presence. Thank you for all you ever showed me. My heart goes out to @brendaedwardsglobal and the whole family. RIP.’
Musician, singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer Elliot Gleave, better known by his stage name Example, also paid tribute to the star.
In a post in Instagram, he wrote: ‘Can’t believe you’re gone. 31 years old. Can’t find the words right now.’
Jamal with his mother Brenda and younger sister Tanisha when they were children
The family of Jamal (pictured as a child) have been left bereft by his death, as have his friends and fans
Jamal with his mother Brenda at her school in Luton where the headteacher made one of the house names ‘Edwards’
The music entrepreneur, who was awarded an MBE in 2014 at the age of 24 for his services to music, died on Sunday morning, his manager said
Prince of Wales on a sofa with Jamal Edwards during a live session at the launch of the Prince’s Trust Summer Sessions at the Princes’s Trust in Historic Chatham Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, in 2013
By 2014, Mr Edwards had amassed an estimated fortune of around £8 million and worked with the likes of Jessie J (pictured together), Emeli Sande and Ed Sheeran
Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex with Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney and presenter Jamal Edwards at Buckingham Palace in London during the launch of the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme in 2014
DJ, model and presenter Snoochie Shy, AKA Cheyenne Davide said: ‘RIP to Jamal Edwards. One of the kindest, thoughtful and all round great person. Gone way too soon,’ she wrote on Twitter.
Awards organisation Mobo has paid tribute with a post on Twitter: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of Jamal Edwards passing. As the founder of @SBTVonline, his groundbreaking work and legacy in British music and culture will live on.
‘Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family.’
Speaking after receiving his MBE in 2014, Mr Edwards said he started SBTV to give his friends a platform.
He added: ‘It was a frustration of going to school and everyone talking about ‘how do we get our videos on MTV’.
‘YouTube was like a year old. I was like ‘I’ve got a camera for Christmas, I’m going to start filming people and uploading it’.
‘Everyone was looking at me like ‘what are you doing, like you can compete with these major corporations’, but I think I was early enough to believe that I could make a change.’
In the same interview, he described his working relationship with musicians as ‘symbiotic’.
‘50% is the talent and 50% is the platform,’ he said.
‘I try to focus on people that haven’t got the platform. As well as getting a really well-known artist I want to get the up-and-coming ones as well.’
Mr Edwards gained fame from setting up new music platform SBTV – helping to launch a string of UK music careers including Dave and Jessie J
Sir Richard Branson and Jamal Edwards (right) at the Impatience is a Virture Festival at the Royal Opera House, London, in 2012
Tributes have been pouring in from music industry heavyweights, sports stars and others for SBTV founder Jamal Edwards (pictured after being awarded his MBE)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10538643/Brenda-Edwards-sings-Whitney-Houston-song-crowd-gathered-vigil-son-Jamal-31.html
