Ephraim Barrett, known professionally as Count Shelly, has passed away at the age of 88. The U.K. sound system culture pioneer’s death was confirmed by longtime friend and collaborator Anthony “Chips” Richards, and relative Trevor Francis.
The esteemed Jamaican moved to the U.K. in 1962, bringing with him the budding sound system culture of Kingston, Jamaica, where DJs would competitively set up speaker stacks in the streets in dance events commonly known as “sound clashes.”
This concept was brought to the U.K. in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Caribbean immigrants who were often disallowed entry to pubs and nightclubs at the time. Sound systems made their way into community centers and the streets of London via these immigrants, who would soon revolutionize U.K. dance and music culture, sparking a new era for the nation’s youth culture.
Count Shelly, a bricklayer and former champion Jamaican cyclist, became a resident DJ at Dalston club Four Aces, one of the first British venues to allow Black music to be played, as well as the 31 Club in Harlesden. Shelly founded the Third World Records label in 1975. He is considered one of the “big three” Sound System culture pioneers, alongside Vincent “Duke Vin” Forbes and Wilbert “Count Suckle” Campbell, all regarded as vastly influential figures in Sound System Culture. Shelly also worked for Jamaican record label and distributor Super Power Records in Brooklyn before eventually moving back to Jamaica.
No official details on the cause of Shelly’s death have been disclosed to the public at the time of writing. He is survived by his four children and four grandchildren, and funeral arrangements are to be announced soon.
