Brooklyn groups honor Barbadian radio pioneer Neville Bush

The Barbadian groups Blackbelly Sheep, LLC and Q—New York, LLC honored Barbadian radio pioneer Neville Bush last Saturday night for his contribution to radio in the Caribbean community in New York.

Ron Simon, president and founder of both groups, told Caribbean Life that Bush and two other community figures were honored during a ceremony at Nazareth Hall in Brooklyn for their “outstanding work throughout the Diaspora for decades.”

Simon said Nikita Robinson was honored for “academic excellence” and Archie “Killer” Miller for “40-plus years of service.”

Bush, whose real name is Neville Bushell, told Caribbean Life that he started playing Caribbean music in 1975 on his Caribbean Pepperpot program on WHBI.

He said CaribbeanPepperpotRadio.com and 106.3 FM. broadcast the program.

A year after starting Caribbean Pepperpot, Bush said he moved to Radio Stations WLIB/WBLS for 30 years and was an On-air personality for two years.

He said he served as an account executive at both radio stations for 28 years, racking up the number one salesperson spot for 15 years.

Bush said he was the first Barbadian broadcaster/DJ to play Caribbean music on a central radio station in New York.

He said he played the music of all the top Barbadian artists at the time, including the Mighty Gabby, Red Plastic Bag, Tony Grazetts, MacFingall, and the Draytons 2, renowned as “The Spouge Kings of Barbados.”

In introducing Bush at Saturday’s ceremony, Simon said Bush is “known to his friends, loved ones and his radio community as ‘The 8th Wonder of the World.’

“You started in 1973 after graduating Broadcasting School and stepped up when called upon to work as a leading sales representative at radio stations WLIB and WBLS,“ Simon told Bush. “You have provided a great amount of value to the Caribbean Diaspora and the customers you serve.

“Neville, you have worked with excellence, and your contributions are many,“ he added. “You exemplify the values of Barbados and have proven to be a tremendous asset to the entertainment industry – for example, religious, contemporary, reggae, jazz, soca, disco, comedy, waltz, and world news, just to mention a few. 

“You are the loudmouth in radio, and we love and thank you for being the voice in our homes, the life of Barbados, a great team player, and, most importantly, forever a better friend,“ Simon continued. “We know this is your last public appearance, and we, the brothers, thank you for spending that time with us. We love you, wish you good health and congratulations from all of us.“

Bush told Caribbean Life afterward that he was “honored to be honored by Ron.

“I appreciate that someone like Ron acknowledges my work over the years – promoting Barbados and the Caribbean culture,“ he added. “I want to thank everybody who came out for the auspicious occasion.“

Margaret Deane, vice president of CAMSA, a Brooklyn-based group, attended the event and told Caribbean Life that she has known Bush since the 1970s.

“He was born to do this, a voice to be reckoned with, and has come a long way in entertaining the Caribbean Diaspora with his knack for incorporating all forms of the music genres from Bajan Spouge, reggae, and likewise, including country and gospel artists,“ she said.  

“He has shown great passion for his work and has been a philanthropic entity for several Caribbean islanders,“ Deane added. “You reach out to him, and he is willing to have you sell your wares over the airways. 

“A very dignified individual, a smart dresser, including his chapeaux, always looking dapper,“ she continued. “He speaks very eloquently, and I am sure that is from his schooling on the island of Barbados.

“Age has not dampened his spirit, and he still has that pep in his step!“ Deane said. “It was a privilege to be at this event and witness his receiving his entitlement for a job well done and being a prominent force in the Caribbean/USA Diaspora.”