Jamal Edwards’ tribute to his ‘life brother’ Ed Sheeran in final Instagram post
Music mogul Jamal Edwards, 31, paid tribute to his ‘life brother’ Ed Sheeran in final Instagram post days before his death: Stars mourn entrepreneur and Prince’s Trust ambassador who helped launch careers of some of UK’s biggest artists
Jamal Edwards shared post about his ‘life brother’ Ed Sheeran in post captioned, Marbella, SpainHe gained fame from setting up new music platform SBTV – helping to launch a string of UK music careersThe music entrepreneur, who was awarded an MBE in 2014 for his services to music, died on Sunday morning Tributes poured in for Mr Edwards, with Bafta-winning actor Adam Deacon saying he was ‘heartbroken’
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British new music impresario Jamal Edwards’ final Instagram post was a tribute to his ‘life brother’ Ed Sheeran as the cause of his death aged 31 remains a mystery.
Mr Edwards, the son of Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards who finished fourth in the 2005 series of the X Factor, 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 has not been confirmed. It has sparked grief and tributes from a host of stars linked to his musical and charitable work.
The entrepreneur gained fame and fortune from setting up new music platform SB.TV at the age of 15, from 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, 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.
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.
Jamal Edwards wished his friend Ed Sheeran a happy birthday from Marbella, Spain, three days ago. His death at 31 was revealed yesterday – but not the cause
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
Mr Edwards, who is the son of Loose Women star Brenda Edwards (pictured together in November 2021), was also a Princes Trust Ambassador
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 mates performing rap music, has, to date, 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. An advert featuring Jamal as the face of Google Chrome had more hits than one with Justin Bieber.
Jamal 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: ‘Today 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.’
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.’
Mr Edwards was a teenager when he decided to launch the youth broadcasting and production film SBTV to upload clips he recorded of his friends performing on the estate where he lived in Acton, west London.
By 2014, he had amassed an estimated fortune of around £8 million and worked with the likes of Jessie J, Emeli Sande and Ed Sheeran.
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.’
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.’
Jamal with his friend Rita Ora, who praised the belief he had in her and many other British acts
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
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
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.’
‘His groundbreaking work and legacy in British music and culture will live on’: Tributes pour in for ‘inspirational’ and ‘remarkable’ Jamal Edwards after his death aged 31
By Rachael Bunyan for MailOnline
Tributes have been pouring in from music industry heavyweights, sports stars and others for SBTV founder Jamal Edwards – who championed acts including Dave, Ed Sheeran and Jessie J – after his death at the age of 31.
Chelsea FC player Reece James said on Twitter: ‘Rest in peace Jamal Edwards. I’m lost for words.’
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.’
Tributes have been pouring in from music industry heavyweights, sports stars and others for SBTV founder Jamal Edwards (pictured after being awarded his MBE)
Awards organisation Mobo said 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.’
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.’
Musician, singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer Elliot Gleave, better known by his stage name Example, said: ‘Can’t believe you’re gone. 31 years old. Can’t find the words right now.’
Bafta-winning actor writer, director, and producer Adam Deacon, known for his leading role in Kidulthood, said he was ‘heartbroken’ about the death.
He said on Twitter: ‘Today 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.
Sir Richard Branson and Jamal Edwards (right) at the Impatience is a Virture Festival at the Royal Opera House, London, in 2012
‘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.’
Amelia Dimoldenberg, the creator of Chicken Shop Dates, also praised Edwards.
Writing on Twitter, she said: ‘Jamal Edwards, one of the most generous people I have ever met. Someone who loved music and truly believed in all the joy it brings. Going above and beyond to connect people and bring ideas to life.
‘You have shaped culture and changed the lives of others – never to be forgotten.
‘Thank you for everything. You will be so greatly missed.’
