Patrick Hepburn

Patrick Hepburn, born in Birmingham in 1962 to Jamaican Windrush parents, began his musical and spiritual journey listening to Jim Reeves and Elvis Presley's gospel on Sundays, alongside his father’s acoustic guitar with its simple G, C, and D chords.

His first church, Church of God of Prophecy, Farm Street, introduced him to the vibrant energy of musicians like Ted Roy Powell and Steve Powell.

His musical path became serious at school, where he met talents like Lester Davis and Selwyn Howe. Elvis Campbell of Bethel Apostolic, a multi-instrumentalist, was a major early influence. In 1973, they formed a school group, blending gospel (“This Little Light of Mine”) with reggae (“Waiting in Vain”). Before fully committing to his faith, Patrick ran a reggae sound system in Aston during the mid-70s.

A “cataclysmic explosion” occurred in 1982 when Patrick and his brother committed to faith at the Church of God of Prophecy in Northfield. Witnessing Josh and Vince McCullough play guitar at Aberdeen Street, Patrick was so overwhelmed by Vince’s skill that he “gave up guitar instantaneously and went straight to bass guitar,” believing he “can’t manage this.” He then ardently studied the complex musicality of the church’s prophecy style on bass, later reincorporating rhythm guitar.

In the early 80s, Patrick studied music at Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, playing for the college choir and later for the Small Heath Gospel Choir, meticulously learning to emulate complex American gospel music by ear. He then became the bassist for his local church choir, Aberdeen Street.

A “traumatic time” between 2001 and 2004 led him to take a break from music to retrain as a bus driver to raise funds. He returned in 2007 at Living Stones of Birmingham, playing lead guitar and teaching. He credits Josh McCullough and David Oliver as his greatest musical examples and mentors, even borrowing Oliver’s only guitar for projects. He also sought mentorship from Alvin Ewen, the Steel Pulse bassist.

Patrick’s faith and songwriting were profoundly shaped in the 90s by the teaching of Samadhi The International on thanksgiving and worship as a lifestyle. He pays tribute to his childhood friend Lester Davis (“Prof”), a creative peer who later toured with The Kushites and tragically passed away in 2019. He remembers Hazel Watson as a “social butterfly” with a “big, powerful voice” and highlights his relationship with the late Trevor Prince for teaching him musical subtlety.

His most impactful musical experience was witnessing the Matthews Sisters sing Vickie Winans’ “We Shall Behold Him” at a 90s Aberdeen Street Convocation.