A PIONEERING black record label has been honoured with a blue plaque in west London. 

Peckings Records was awarded a prestigious blue plaque outside the original label and shop address in Shepherd’s Bush. 

“To see something my dad started, develop into such a huge part of our culture is incredible.”

Chris ‘Peckings’ Price

The landmark record label and record shop was founded in the 1960s by George ‘Peckings’ Price, who was one of the first to import Jamaican music into England, before there was a Reggae music scene in the UK. 

The plaque was unveiled yesterday afternoon at 142 Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush, where the iconic record label and shop first opened its doors in 1974. 

For the past six decades, the label and record shop has continuously been at the forefront of promoting Jamaican music in the UK and around the world.

When George Price died in 1994, his sons took over the iconic family business and continued the Peckings legacy.

Tony and Trevor continued with the shop, whilst the two younger brothers – Chris and Duke – took the Peckings Records label to another level, and solidified its place in Reggae history – as one of the most influential record labels of our time. 

Speaking to The Voice at the unveiling, Chris ‘Peckings’ Price, said: “It feels amazing to see this happen. 

“Words fail me, but to see something my dad started, develop into such a huge part of our culture is incredible. 

“Peckings has been an important part of shaping our music and wider culture and to see the impact, it has had on Sound system culture is great. 

“Even when the face of London is changing, the foundation stays the same, and this is very important for us and the local community.”

“This plaque means my dad, his passion for Reggae music and our contribution is cemented in history and I’m very proud of that,” Mr Price added. 

His brother, Duke ‘Peckings’ Price told The Voice: “The plaque means a lot to my family, friends and the local community who have always supported us and are like family to us.” 

The installation was the 70^th blue plaque put up by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, who commemorate the lives of influential black historical figures around Britain, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Founder of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, 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.”

At the ceremony, Mr Beula described the family as “giants” in the music business and local community.

George ‘Peckings’ Price was born in July 1927, in Jamaica, and was a “proud Kingstonian” according to a close family friend.

He always had a passion and interest in music and loved to dance and that is how earned his nickname ‘Peckings’.

According to close family friend, Hawkeye, Mr Price had a “unique, signature shuffle dance” which resembled the movement of a “peck” so everyone started calling him ‘Peckings’.

The Peckings musical story began in Jamaica, where Mr Price formed a partnership with the legendary producer Coxsone Dodd from Studio One. 

They set up their own Sound system, which included members like Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Prince Buster. 

In 1960, Mr Price decided to come to the UK, taking with him a suitcase full of vinyls from Prince Buster and Coxsone. Peckings supplied UK-based Jamaican soundmen like Duke Vin, Count Suckle and Daddy Vego with RnB, Ska and Reggae records, before opening his own record label and shop in 1973. 

At the time, he was the only distributer of Studio One music in the UK and supplied many of today’s top DJs with their first taste of Jamaican music, including David Rodigan.

DJ David Rodigan MBE OD said: “George ‘Peckings’ Price, made an immeasurable contribution to the evolution of Jamaican music in London with his tireless passion and enthusiasm for the promotion of Studio One music, a catalogue quite unlike any other. For this, and so much more, we all owe Peckings a huge debt of love and respect.”

Peckings Records has been responsible for breaking some of the most prominent reggae artists of the last two decades including Bitty McLean, Gappy Ranks, Peter Hunningale and Tarrus Riley. The label has released almost 100 records and albums since 1994, and is internationally known for its outstanding musical production.

In recent years, Peckings Records was awarded both best label and producer at the British Reggae Industry Awards.

The popular record shop is still situated in Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush and is run by the younger ‘Peckings’ brothers Chris and Duke.

The shop has become a cultural hub for fans of Jamaican music and is still the go-to place for rare vinyl records.

The Peckings Records blue plaque can be seen at 142 Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush, and the quintessential record shop is located at 81 Askew Road.