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Jamal Edwards: Ed Sheeran, Jessie Ware and Lewis Capaldi join tribute to late music pioneer

Ed Sheeran with Brenda Edwards, right, and Tanisha Artman, the mother and sister of Jamal Edwards, at Tuesday night’s gala  (Getty Images for Jamal Edwards S)
Ed Sheeran with Brenda Edwards, right, and Tanisha Artman, the mother and sister of Jamal Edwards, at Tuesday night’s gala (Getty Images for Jamal Edwards S)

The mother of Jamal Edwards pledged to continue his work helping young people — as Ed Sheeran, Jessie Ware and Lewis Capaldi performed at a memorial gala for the late music pioneer.

Edwards, who founded online music platform SBTV and was made an MBE for services to music in 2015, died in February at the age of 31.

Tuesday night’s gala also served as the first fundraiser for the Jamal Edwards Self-Belief Trust, which aims to help young people at risk of homelessness and give them the opportunity to thrive in the media industry.

Speaking before the event, the entrepreneur’s mother Brenda Edwards said she will “never get over his death”.

But Mrs Edwards, a panelist on ITV’s Loose Women, added: “He’s here, I feel it; his presence is with me every single day. His generosity is what we want to continue. He was always about championing young people. That was his main aim.”

Jamal Edwards - In pictures

Jamal Edwards attends the launch of Allegra at The Stratford (Dave Benett)
Jamal Edwards attends the launch of Allegra at The Stratford (Dave Benett)
Jamal Edwards MBE attends ‘Hermes: Step Into The Frame’ at Nine Elms (Dave Benett)
Jamal Edwards MBE attends ‘Hermes: Step Into The Frame’ at Nine Elms (Dave Benett)
Jamal Edwards X American Freshman for TopMan laaunch at TopMan (Getty Images)
Jamal Edwards X American Freshman for TopMan laaunch at TopMan (Getty Images)
Jamal Edwards attends The BRIT Awards 2019 (Getty Images)
Jamal Edwards attends The BRIT Awards 2019 (Getty Images)
Jamal Edwards holding his Member of the British Empire medal (PA Archive)
Jamal Edwards holding his Member of the British Empire medal (PA Archive)
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 Programm (PA)
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 Programm (PA)
Ed Sheeran with Jamal Edwards (Jamal Edwards)
Ed Sheeran with Jamal Edwards (Jamal Edwards)
Jamal Edwards and Cara Delevingne attend Cara Delevingne’s house party to celebrate the launch of a new feminine fragrance, Burberry ‘Her” (Dave Benett/Getty Images for COT)
Jamal Edwards and Cara Delevingne attend Cara Delevingne’s house party to celebrate the launch of a new feminine fragrance, Burberry ‘Her” (Dave Benett/Getty Images for COT)
Sir Richard Branson and Jamal Edwards (PA)
Sir Richard Branson and Jamal Edwards (PA)
Adwoa Aboah and Jamal Edwards attend the launch celebration of Adwoa Aboah’s new Revlon x Gurls Talk limited edition make up kits at Somerset House (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Rev)
Adwoa Aboah and Jamal Edwards attend the launch celebration of Adwoa Aboah’s new Revlon x Gurls Talk limited edition make up kits at Somerset House (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Rev)

The evening at new venue HERE, at Outernet in Soho, was hosted by Hollywood actor Terry Crews. Singer Ware remembered her friend Edwards as “a huge supporter of everyone whether you were doing well or not, he was there to kind of gee you up.

“We had a dance at Ed’s wedding. He got me tickets for Chelsea — even though I’m a Man United fan, he was like, just that guy. We’d talk a lot, he was just a wonderful person.”

Edwards founded SBTV while still at school. It went on to help launch the careers of artists including Stormzy, Dave, Emeli Sandé and Sheeran, who paid tribute to the entrepreneur, calling him his “brother”.

He said: “Jamal was just all about finding people and showing people new opportunities, at a time where the industry was mostly based in London.

Jessie Ware attends the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust Gala (Dave Benett)
Jessie Ware attends the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust Gala (Dave Benett)

“My manager, my record label, saw me first on SBTV. I really don’t think I would have been allowed through certain doors if it hadn’t been for Jamal.”

The night raised over £100,000 with £12,000 of that donated by America’s Got Talent star Crews, who became emotional at times as he spoke about his “kindred spirit” Edwards.

A signed acetate of Sheeran’s yet-to-be named new album — due out next year — was snapped up by Grammy-winner Eve for £35,000.

Edwards died from a heart attack after taking cocaine and drinking alcohol, a coroner concluded.