Brenda Edwards, the mother of the late Jamal Edwards, paid tribute to her son on what would have been his 34th birthday. Jamal, a West London DJ and music entrepreneur who was awarded an MBE for his contributions to music, sadly passed away at the age of 31 on February 20, 2022, due to an irregular heartbeat caused by recreational drug use. Brenda shared a heartfelt video on Instagram featuring various moments from Jamal’s life, set to the song This Is The Beginning by Ely Eira. The video showcased Jamal as a baby, on holiday, DJing, laughing with his mother, and playing football, capturing the joy he brought into Brenda’s life.
In the video caption, Brenda expressed her love for her son, commemorating the happiness and sunshine he brought into her life 34 years ago. Her Loose Women colleagues, Judi Love and Denise Welch, offered their support and love, with Love sending a heartfelt message and Welch paying tribute to Jamal’s favourite colour with blue heart emojis. Other celebrities like Layton Williams, Josie Gibson, and Danny Miller also showed their support with heart emojis. Ed Sheeran, whose career was influenced by Jamal, shared a photo of his late friend on his Instagram story, expressing how much he misses him every day.
Additionally, Chelsea Football Club, Jamal’s favourite team, surprised Brenda with a £1 million donation from their foundation to the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust. This trust, established in Jamal’s memory, aims to support underrepresented young people in accessing fulfilling careers. The Chelsea Foundation announced a five-year partnership with the trust to fund initiatives such as the Self Belief Sanctuary programme for at-risk youth and the Self Belief Community Hub, a space for the community to come together. The club also committed to funding 31 apprenticeships annually for five years to help underrepresented young people access various industries for fulfilling careers.
Jamal rose to fame with the creation of the music platform SBTV in 2006, where he played a pivotal role in launching UK music acts like Ed Sheeran, Dave, and Jessie J into stardom. He was known as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity led by the Prince of Wales, and was honoured with an MBE in 2014 for his contributions to music.
Jamal’s legacy lives on through the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust, which continues to empower young people to pursue their dreams and access opportunities in various industries. The outpouring of love and support from Brenda, friends, celebrities, and organisations like Chelsea Football Club reflects the impact Jamal had on those around him and the lasting influence of his work in the music industry and beyond.
