Flip Fraser
Flip Fraser | |
|---|---|
| Born | Peter Randolph Fraser 25 October 1951 |
| Died | 31 August 2014 (aged 62) London, England |
| Education | Vaz Prep School; Jamaica College; Bradford University |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist and playwright |
| Known for | Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame |
| Spouse | Joyce Fraser |
Peter Randolph Fraser, known as Flip Fraser (25 October 1951 – 31 August 2014), was a Jamaican-British journalist and playwright. Fraser was founding editor of The Voice. He also wrote and directed the stage musical Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame,[1] the first all-black cast production to play in the West End of London.[2]
Life
Fraser was born on 25 October 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica. After attending Vaz Prep School,[1] he won a scholarship to Jamaica College.[3] At the age of 16, he moved to the UK when his father was posted to the Jamaican High Commission in London.[4] After completing secondary schooling, he enrolled to study chemistry at Bradford University but dropped out after becoming allergic to the chemicals.[2]
Working in the music industry with record label Trojan Records, he became interested in the media.[5] After studying media and journalism at Tennessee State University, where he was a contemporary of Oprah Winfrey,[6] he wrote for West Indian World, Sounds, Caribbean Times and West Indian Digest. In 1982, Val McCalla recruited him to be the first editor of The Voice.[2]
Fraser later worked as a special projects, arts and entertainment officer for Camden Council. There he worked with J. D. Douglas, and the pair collaborated to write and stage Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame, with music by Khareem Jamal.[7] The first all-black production to be staged in the West End, the show opened at the Shaw Theatre in 1987, with original cast members including lover's rock singer Jean Adebambo, actor and musician Count Prince Miller, reggae musician Lloyd Brown and actor Fraser James. Described by The Washington Post as "a seven-act musical extravaganza that spans 4,000 years of history",[8] the musical went on to tour America,[9] where Fraser and others were invited to the home of Louis Farrakhan.[2]
Fraser died at St Thomas' Hospital, London, on 31 August 2014, aged 62.[3] A memorial service was held at St Martin's-in-the-Fields.[1] In 2016, his widow Joyce established a charity, the Black Heroes Foundation, in his memory.[2][10][11]
References
- ^ a b c Rob, Abdul (15 October 2015). "In Remembrance: Celebrating the Life of Peter Fraser". Black History Month. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Howse, Imogen (19 October 2020). "Widow honours husband with charity celebrating black heroes". South West Londoner. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ a b Pears, Elizabeth (7 September 2014). "Black hero Flip Fraser joins the hall of fame". Jamaica Gleaner.
- ^ "Joyce Fraser Interview". Wandsworth Arts Fringe. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Grant, Dionne (31 August 2014). "First Editor Of The Voice Newspaper Flip Fraser Dies". The Voice.
- ^ Joseph, Tashan (9 September 2014). "Flip Fraser Celebrated This Evening". The Voice.
- ^ Kambona, Neema. "Making History with Black Heroes – JD Douglas Sets the Record Straight". Diversity Business Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Dana (2 February 1991). "Limelight". The Wwashington Post. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Barnidge, Mary Shen (28 March 1991). "Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame/Imagining America/Sex Lives of Superheroes". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Joyce Fraser OBE". Black Heroes Foundation. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "'Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame' revived". Jamaica Gleaner. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
External links
- "Images from Exhibition The Story of Flip Fraser" (part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival in June 2022), Black Heroes Foundation.
- "Flip Fraser's Vision - Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame", Black Heroes Foundation. Voice of Fraser talking about his vision for Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame.