In a Caribbean bakery on a bustling road in Tooting lies an unusual secret. Mixed Blessings, on Mitcham Road, now serves bread, buns and patties, but it was once home to a famous recording studio.
In the 1970s-80s Tooting Music Centre (TMC) hosted some of the biggest names in the business - from Black Slate, Sly and Leroy Smart. Legend has it Bob Marley once walked the studio’s halls.
But in 1987 the studio faded away, after the owner Bernie's son was killed by a drunk driver, and it became a bakery shortly after.
Out of all the sounds coming out of the studio, Reggae was the most prominent.
This month, a blue plaque has been funded by the public to mark Tooting's lively musical history.
The plaque has been doing the rounds of Tooting for the last few months, visiting local businesses and residents who have memories of the studio, or are just music fans.
The plaque reads: “Some of the biggest names in the Reggae music business once recorded here at Tooting Music Centre.”
Head of Tooting Rasta Cycle Club, Tim, was involved in the creation of the marker. He said many more anecdotes have been uncovered on the plaque’s journey.
“We haven’t just been to all the hipster cafes have spoken to real tooting people and it’s been fascinating to learn more local history,” Tim said.
The plaque is one of the latest projects by Geoff Simmons, a local historian and plaque pioneer.
Mr Simmons is responsible for crowdfunding, and erecting plaques for Wandsworth heroes, from Jazz singer Sadie Crawford to athlete Albert Hill.
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Tim added: “Without Geoff, this would not have happened. He’s been driving force behind blue plaque initiative.”
It is expected the plaque will be unveiled at a ceremony in October, to tie in with black history month.
More information about TMC and other nuggets of local history can be found on Mr Simmons’ blog here.
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