About BB&W
Black Brown & White is an independently owned record label specialising in Country, Folk, Blues and World Music. BB&W was born out of a wish to create a lasting musical legacy through collaboration with talented musicians, creating an environment where creativity and the love for music comes first.
Who we are
Stephen Lyttelton
The first record I ever heard was Black Brown & White by the legendary Big Bill Broonzy. My father played me the 1951 Vogue recording when I was about 6 years old. That record taught me what great music can do.
As far as a career goes, for far too long I was running very big record stores in London; my favourite was Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus. My time there was nothing but fun. The most amazing staff who were there because they loved music and we created an environment where people could not only find what they wanted but more importantly find stuff they never knew they wanted. That shop really was the best and the specialist music floor was second to none.
In 2007 having been rescued from the titanic of record retail, I worked with my father on his website. Apart from a long overdue bonding, I learnt a lot about his immense contribution to British Jazz music. This process continued when he passed away as I compiled and edited two books of his work. The Last Chorus was made up of everything I could find that he had written and literally cut and pasted it all to tell his story, in his words. The other, Faces of Humph, focused on his cartoons.
During this time Karen and I put together a film script which will one day get made and also set up the Humph Trust to support young jazz musicians in their careers. This was launched on April 25th with a celebratory concert at Hammersmith Apollo.
In some way setting up Black Brown & White Records has meant going full circle. The impact of hearing that record still resounds and for me BB&W needs to live up to the stature of that record and create great recordings that last.
Karen Sonego
I grew up in Brazil and have lived in Germany and Italy before settling in London eight years ago. In 2008 I obtained a BA in Film and Media and in 2009 an MA in History of Film and Visual Media. During this time I wrote several screenplays and also worked closely with music in a retail capacity, specialising in Country, Folk and World Music.
That is when I met Stephen and we started a creative collaboration, first with a script and then setting up the Humph Trust and organising the Humphrey Lyttelton - A Celebration Concert that took place in April, 2010 in London.
My fondest, and earliest memories, are of my father playing the guitar and singing. We used to gather in the garden, under the shades of lemon and pomegranate trees to listen to my father singing traditional folk songs. As a much beloved country/folk singer in my home country, my father, Zé Tapera, has given me an utter respect and admiration for dedicating oneʼs life to the love of music. I felt how transforming music could be.
And it is with the same passion that now, together with Stephen, I am very proud to be part of Black Brown & White Records, a new label with great music at its heart.