Bim Sherman – Lightning And Thunder / Why Won’t You Come On – Attack Records – 1979

In remembrance of Bim Sherman A.K.A Jarret Lloyd Vincent A.K.A Lloyd Tomlinson, who passed away on this day, 17th November 2000, twenty years ago after a short fight with cancer.

I knew Bim very well.

Bim visited Southern Studios and Southern Record Distributors often, a couple of times a month over many years.

We went to cafe’s to eat together. I was a visitor to his home in Turnpike Lane. I was present at his rare live performances that were organised in London.

I was also, inevitably, present at his funeral in New Southgate, and later that afternoon, present at the African – Caribbean Centre in Hornsey for the celebration of his life.

I employed his teenage son at Southern Record Distributors for a short time after his death.

I have many fond memories of Bim. His gentle personality, his humour, and the live performances that I attended. Two of the live performances, one at The Sir George Robey in Finsbury Park, and one at the Islington Powerhaus were both special in a deeply personal way for me. As a gentleman I will not name either of the ladies on this YouTube post!

These fond memories will never leave my psyche.

And course I have a fondness for his sweet vocal style showcased on his large back catalogue of music recorded for various Jamaican record labels, and for Adrian Sherwood’s Hit Run and ONU Sound record labels.

Bim Sherman album highlights include:

‘Lovers Leap’ originally released on Scorpio Records.

‘Love Forever’ originally released on Tribesman Records.

‘Across The Red Sea’ originally released on ON U Sound records, and his work with the ON U Sound All Stars – Singers And Players.

This extended play 12” record uploaded this morning was the only Bim Sherman recording that was released on the Attack record label, a record label that was affiliated with Trojan Records.

The Attack record label was originally started in 1969 as a subsidiary of Doctor Bird Records featuring Bunny Lee productions. Trojan Records took over in 1970, and the label lasted until around 1980.

The text below courtesy of the On U Sound website.

Hailed as “reggae’s sweetest voice”, Bim Sherman was gifted with a haunting, ethereal vocal ability that reached into the very heart of his listeners.

Rooted in reggae, his music developed in later years in many directions, combining influences from all around the world, notably India.

In the mid 1970s he recorded a small body of classic roots tunes as a young struggling singer in Jamaica. He later moved to London after being persuaded to join 1979’s Roots Encounter tour alongside renowned toaster Prince Far I, Creation Rebel and Prince Hammer, where he met longtime admirer Adrian Sherwood and began his long relationship with On-U Sound.

Adrian comments: “All great singers and vocalists have one thing in common – their voice stands out like a uniquely tuned instrument that only one person can play. Bim Sherman [was] a singer/songwriter with a truly golden tone. I have been throughout his whole career a huge fan. I first heard one of Bim’s songs while working in PAMA records Soundville Shop in Harlesden, London, in the mid 1970s … His was like a voice from the wilderness, the lyrics and fragile power ensured that in every subsequent batch of imports I was looking out for a new Sherman record. I wasn’t disappointed.”

Sherman became part of various musical collectives associated with On-U Sound, such as New Age Steppers (alongside Ari Up, formerly of The Slits), Singers And Players (with Congo Ashanti Roy and the late Prince Far-I), Dub Syndicate and Justice League of Zion.

In 1994 Bim Sherman took a whole new musical direction. He re-recorded six of his old tunes in an acoustic session at Richard Branson’s Manor Studios, accompanied by Skip McDonald on guitar and Talvin Singh on tablas. He went to India and re-recorded his classic 70s roots tunes alongside a full Indian classical orchestra in Bombay, creating his masterpiece LP, the highly acclaimed Miracle – a fitting testament to reggae’s sweetest voice.

Bim Sherman died in London 17th November 2000 at the age of 50. He received an obituary in the London Times, a rare and unlikely accolade for an underground reggae singer.