Accessibility Options (0)
HomeGet InvolvedCommunitiesProject ArchiveThe Ray King Experience


Opening Hours

Monday - Saturday
10.00am - 4.00pm
Sunday
12.00pm - 4.00pm

Contact

Phone
024 7683 2386
Email
info@theherbert.org
Address
Jordan Well, Coventry,
CV1 5QP


The Ray King Experience

Still from Ray King (Part 3) (Clicking will open video in YouTube) Enlarge
Still from Ray King (Part 3)

Vibert Cornwall was Coventry's first Black professional musician, and under the name of Ray King became a leading soul performer in the 1960s and 1970s.


The Herbert has worked with Vibert to create a film about his life and career which also gives a fascinating insight into the early days of Coventry's Black community.

Many hours of interviewing with Vibert gave us a wealth of new material for our archives. His memories helped to record the liveliness of the Coventry music scene and the glamour of his career as he performed at London's Playboy club and played with stars like Tina Turner. Interviews with other local people brought back memories of late night Caribbean blues parties and the Coventry police ballroom which played host to a wealth of local performers. Vibert's crucial influence on the Two Tone movement was recalled by interviewees Charley Anderson and Neol Davies of The Selecter.

The film was a joint project between our Inclusion and Diversity team and Herbert Media. It was first shown for Black History Month 2007 and is also being supplied to local schools as a learning resource.

For further information on the project contact Jack Shuttleworth on 024 7629 4752 or email jack.shuttleworth@theherbert.org

Click on the images to view the films