Blue Plaque Unveiled at Former Location of Askew Road Reggae Shop
Peckings Records has had a huge influence on London's music and culture
Pictured centre is Chris Price with Mary Price (left) and H&F Mayor Cllr PJ Murphy (right)
March 14, 2022
The former premises of a pioneering record shop in Shepherd’s Bush that specialised in reggae has been marked with a blue plaque.
Peckings Records was honoured at its original Askew Road location on Wednesday (9 March).
The blue plaque recognises the importance of Peckings as a local Black-owned and run business, as well as its immense contributions to music and culture in London.
It was unveiled by H&F Mayor Cllr PJ Murphy and Jak Beula, Founder of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, as a huge group of friends and family members joined the party.
Over the past 50 years, the Shepherd’s Bush reggae shop has been a destination for soundsystem operators, DJs and music lovers alike.
Opened in 1974 by George ‘Peckings’ Price at 142 Askew Road (now Jude’s Barbers), it became the first London outlet to import records directly from Jamaica to the UK – a full two years before Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, started popularising the sound.
Yet George and his wife Gertrude had settled in Shepherd’s Bush 13 years before opening the shop. And from their arrival to London in 1960, the family catered for legendary sound systems and labels – primarily by his close connection staging dances in Jamaica and later importing tunes to the UK produced by Clement ‘Coxsone’ Dodd of Studio One fame.
Pictured left is George ‘Peckings’ Price inside the original record shop. Pictured right is the exterior of the original store at 142 Askew Road (now Jude’s Barbers)
From his suitcase walking the streets of areas like Ladbroke Grove, George also supplied UK-based Jamaican soundmen including Duke Vin, Count Suckle and Daddy Vego with RnB, ska and reggae records.
Other famous customers who have relied on Peckings over the years include soundman Jah Shaka and BBC DJ David Rodigan, as well as important London labels Hawkeye, Daddy Kool and Cha Cha.
George’s love of music started in Kingston, Jamaica, where he had formed a partnership with Coxsone Dodd, famed producer and label owner of Studio One. He also worked with seminal artists such as Prince Buster – who frequently stayed with the Prices in London – and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
After George passed away in 1994, the shop passed to his sons to continue the legacy. Tony and Trevor were based in the shop, while younger brothers Chris and Duke have more recently taken Peckings Records and its associated label to a higher level.
Peckings – now based at 81 Askew Road – was awarded both ‘Best Label’ and ‘Best Producer’ at the British Reggae Industry Awards in 2013. The label has released more than 90 records and been responsible for breaking some of the most influential reggae artists of the last two decades, including Bitty McLean, Gappy Ranks, Peter Hunningale and Tarrus Riley.
The Price brothers
Chris Price said, “It’s a special day for our family. We’re all very honoured and it’s great to have friends and family here today. Thanks to H&F Council and Nubian Jak for the plaque. It’s a very emotional day. On behalf of Peckings – love!”
While Duke Price said: “It’s not just my dad but also my mother who are getting this plaque today. The entire family. We had humble beginnings and we’re humble people. Thank you.”
Jak Beula said, “Peckings Records is an oak tree that grew from the acorn of Jamaican music enthusiast George Price, whose love for the music of his island helped to create the phenomenon of ska and reggae in the United Kingdom.”
H&F’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Sue Fennimore, paid tribute to the Price family by saying, “Almost 50 years later, the name ‘Peckings’ and the sound of reggae the Price family has championed remains vital today.
“The plaque highlights the rich heritage and diversity of music we have in our borough. And we’re delighted to be working with Nubian Jak to acknowledge the huge influence that Peckings has had on music and culture across London.”
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