Grantley Haynes explores the historical origins and Afro-centric evolutions of British Reggae Music as a genre, shedding light on the traditions embedded in British youth culture during the 1970s and 80s. With over forty years of experience, he explores the reggae music scene in the UK in the 1980s and beyond, examining the cultural impact and responses from both black and white youths. But perhaps most importantly, he highlights the development of Lovers Rock and British MCs, emphasising the profound influence of the Windrush migration and its lasting impact on UK culture, particularly in the realm of music.

Dive into the rich history of British reggae music with "The British Reggae Music Industry, A Windrush Legacy: My Story". This powerful book uncovers the roots of a musical movement that shaped British culture, tracing its origins to the Windrush Generation and their lasting influence on the music scene.

Founder of GT's Records and My Boyz Beatz launched the careers of Grammy-nominated artists like Pato Banton and Tippa Irie and renowned lovers of rock vocalist Peter Spence. A local DJ turned music promoter, he organised the landmark Birmingham Maximilian MC clash in 1985, featuring Pato Banton, Macka B, Tippa Rie, and Papa Levi. As an insider, this personal account offers a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of reggae music in Britain. From the early struggles to the vibrant success stories, the book explores how reggae became a defining voice for a generation, blending culture, identity, and resistance.

Whether you're a music enthusiast, historian, or someone seeking to understand the impact of migration on British culture, this book offers a unique perspective. Discover untold stories, personal insights, and the deep connection between reggae, community, and resilience.

Don't miss the chance to explore this compelling narrative. Order "The British Reggae Music Industry, A Windrush Legacy: My Story" today and experience the legacy of British reggae music like never before!

Money, Power and Fame, a double-edged situation

Grantley doesn't play a musical instrument. However, before the release of Hello Darling by Tippa Irie, he took saxophone lessons from Birmingham's legendary Andy Hamilton. Even though he ceased to continue his lessons, they taught him how to understand musical notation, chords and progressions, runs, colours and circular breathing. He coupled this with what he learned from listening to his dad, playing his records and listening to him explain the difference between a good and a great singer. However, his overarching learning outcome came when he found he could write music by communicating notes and melodies by humming, whistling or playing bass notes using my mouth (similar to James Brown, Michael Jackson and beatboxers). This enabled him to write compositions and songs for music he planned to record and produce. These key attributes assisted him in later years when he became a music producer in the 1980s and later for My Boyz Beatz.

No matter where he was or what Grantley was doing, he couldn't forget how much he found the mixing board from the moment he saw George Harrison behind those knobs and that board; he knew then that one day it would be him behind those knobs in some shape or form. Throughout his time in the music business, Grantley would find others before and after shows doing many things; you would almost certainly find Grantley with other engineers and muso's twisting knobs creating how he wanted the artists he worked with sound.

About

Grantley Haynes 'The Author

In his first publication, Grantley chronicles and explores the historical origins and Afro-centric evolutions of British Reggae Music as a genre, shedding light on the traditions embedded in British youth culture during the 1970s and 80s. With over forty years of experience, he explores the reggae music scene in the UK in the 1980s and beyond, examining the cultural impact and responses from both black and white youths. But perhaps most importantly, he highlights the development of Lovers Rock and British MCs, emphasising the profound influence of the Windrush migration and its lasting impact on UK culture, particularly in the realm of music.

Dive into the rich history of British reggae music with "The British Reggae Music Industry, A Windrush Legacy: My Story". This powerful book uncovers the roots of a musical movement that shaped British culture, tracing its origins to the Windrush Generation and its lasting influence on the music scene.

Founder of GT's Records and My Boyz Beatz launched the careers of Grammy-nominated artists like Pato Banton and Tippa Irie and renowned lovers of rock vocalist Peter Spence. A local DJ turned music promoter, he organised the landmark Birmingham Maximilian MC clash in 1985, featuring Pato Banton, Macka B, Tippa Rie, and Papa Levi. As an insider, this personal account offers a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of reggae music in Britain. From the early struggles to the vibrant success stories, the book explores how reggae became a defining voice for a generation, blending culture, identity, and resistance.

Whether you're a music enthusiast, historian, or someone seeking to understand the impact of migration on British culture, this book offers a unique perspective. Discover untold stories, personal insights, and the deep connection between reggae, community, and resilience.

Don't miss the chance to explore this compelling narrative. Order "The British Reggae Music Industry, A Windrush Legacy: My Story" today and experience the legacy of British reggae music like never before!

Working Life

Grantley is a conscientious, organised, and efficient professional with considerable management experience in transformational change in the public and private sectors and a thorough understanding of community engagement, both operationally and strategically. With extensive experience as a non-executive board member, I am adept at reading and understanding complex, technical board papers where oversight, critical thinking, accountability and engagement with fellow board members and officers are crucial. I have excellent communication and interviewing skills, having participated in interview panels and several change programmes throughout my career. The principles of equality and inclusion are embedded into my DNA; thus, I have initiated those principles in the organisations I have worked within. Experience has taught me that listening well is a unique talent, and developing this skill has proved invaluable when cultural dynamics come into play and when an empathetic and respectful response is required. I am a strategic thinker, having written and initiated forward-thinking drug-related policies. I connect well with people at all levels with a vibrant, likeable personality and a flexible approach. I am happy to work as part of a team and particularly with others from diverse backgrounds.

Key Skills

* Developing and sustaining relationships across multi-faceted organisations
* Strategic and analytic thinker, planner and problem solver
* Experienced high-end project manager and organisational change practitioner
* In-depth knowledge of inner-city communities
* Experienced coach and mentor
* Active listener and problem solver
* Impeccable presentation skills and exceptional negotiator

Experience

The Wheeler Street Young Entertainers and Entrepreneurs in Action

CEO and Senior Practitioner

* Created and built an end-to-end youth charity supporting young people in deprived parts of Birmingham

* Developed and supported 123 individual programmes incorporating theatre, music production and rap
* Built a non-executive board of eight members, including the chair and deputy chair, to support the business

* Developed HM Government (Prevent) Far Right training for Birmingham City Council (BCC), National Health Service (NHS), the wider community and staff

Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust

Communications, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager

* Initiated and implemented a series of transformational community development plans

* Reimagined the relationships between the NHS and key stakeholders

* Developed a range of policy initiatives, including FA coaching, healthy living and land volunteers

* Changed the financial profile that underpinned service delivery

* Wrote, developed and participated in the training programmes, including negotiation and fundraising

* Monitored and shaped the performance management tools for the entire division

* Presented policy documents and transformational change programmes internally and externally

* Generated new business and brought in significant amounts of funding

* Ensured the services delivered were in keeping with internal, regional and national policy

* Consistently exceeded the performance measures expected of me

2007: Created the Wheeler Street Young Entertainers

Developed and managed a team of service delivery agents and coordinated and developed a series of promotional events, including black-tie fundraising evenings. Sourced funding streams, created the board, worked with stakeholders and developed networks

2000: Founded Haynes Training, delivering training in the UK and internationally

Lectured at Birmingham University, Westhill and Newman Colleges, University of Central England and University of Leicester (Scarman Centre) and across the West Indies.

1998: Founded GT Music Management Agency

Received global recognition for management achievements as the principal producer of three top 10 singles and the executive producer for five album projects.

Career Highlights

* Received a commendation from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Liam Byrne, MP

* The City of Birmingham Crack Cocaine Strategy 2005 -2008 Published (2005)

* Crack Cocaine: Concerns of Families & Friends (Leicester University, Scarman Centre) 1998

* 'From Los Angeles to The Bronx: A Study of Crack Cocaine Services in Los Angeles CA, the Bronx New York and the West Indies' (Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust) 1999

* Training for Specialist & Non-Specialist Drug Workers (HM Prisons East & West Midlands CARAT Workers)

* Commissioned by the Chief Executive Birmingham Health Authority, "Primary Care Groups, Substance Misuse & Collaborative Partnerships" (Research Project)

* Consultant to Sheffield Drugs Project, Crack Cocaine Prevalence & Needs Assessment (Research Project)

Education

* 1996 - BPhil (ED) Birmingham University Westhill College
* 1999 - Master of Arts - Criminology
* 2007 - Certificate in Social Care Commissioning and Contracting
* 2009 - Master of Business Administration