Crowds of fans have gathered at a candlelit vigil in west London to pay tribute to SBTV founder Jamal Edwards following his sudden death at the age of 31.
The music entrepreneur 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 Edwards on Acton High Street, which is located in his hometown of Acton, west London.
His death was announced online on Sunday and later confirmed by his management.
A statement by his mother, Brenda, who is a Loose Woman panellist, was read out on the show on Monday stating that he had died on Sunday morning following a “sudden illness” and that his family and friends are “completely devastated”.
She added: “Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on.”
Figures from the world of music and beyond have also paid tribute to Edwards, including Dave and Jessie J, whose careers he is credited with helping to launch.
After the devastating death of Jamal, our thoughts are with Brenda today. She’s sent us this message: pic.twitter.com/EZWH3b5tcX
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) February 21, 2022
Dave shared a photo of Edwards to Twitter and wrote “Thank you for everything words can’t explain”.
While Jessie J said in a post 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.”
The Price Tag singer also shared clips of 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”.
The YouTube star had performed at Bubba Oasis social club in Angel, north London on Saturday night.
The social club also paid tribute to the music entrepreneur, thanking him for supporting the venue by DJing for them over the weekend despite being “constantly in demand”.
Edwards was a teenager when he launched the youth broadcasting and production film channel SBTV to upload clips he had recorded of his friends performing on the estate where he lived in Acton.
By 2014, he had amassed an estimated fortune of about £8 million and worked with the likes of Jessie J, Emeli Sande and Sheeran.
He was also 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.
