Roger Moore

Roger Moore, born in the UK to Jamaican and Saint Kitts & Nevis parents, embarked on a multifaceted musical journey deeply rooted in his Wesleyan-Holiness church upbringing in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Initially, his early church experiences were musically subdued, but evening services offered more vibrancy. Though he preferred football, his brother Sean’s singing and his mother’s dedication to providing gospel music (through “Word Magazine” and vinyls of artists like Richard Smallwood and Commissioned) profoundly influenced him.

A pivotal moment occurred at age sixteen when his father, needing a church bass player, gave him a bass guitar. Despite initial struggles and discontinued piano lessons, a transformative experience with his cousin Wayne, who introduced him to music sampling on an Atari ST, ignited his passion. Roger realized he could create sampled instrumentals for youth choirs by remixing secular tracks like “Groove Thing,” merging Christian themes with contemporary sounds. This marked his evolution into a “production savvy” artist and producer.

Roger’s musical path diverged from peers, as he embraced electronic music production, meticulously learning Cubase and other software to achieve high-quality mixes. This dedication enabled him to produce remixes that met American industry standards, leading major labels to directly release his masters.

His pioneering spirit was evident in “Shekinah,” a “God centered” Christian club night he co-founded at eighteen to offer an alternative to secular clubs. Launched at Newtown Community Centre with massive speakers, it created an “electrifying” atmosphere and was instrumental in getting gospel music played on pirate radio.

Roger’s work with Benji Black on the “Gospel For You” series further promoted local artists, blending hip hop, reggae, and R&B with gospel. He also ventured into media, launching “Uncut” on Geophysical Threesixty TV to showcase artists, and established Gospel Inc. magazine to promote Midlands gospel music. These initiatives aimed to provide platforms and ownership for Black artists within the industry.

He expresses concern about the “displacement of investment” in Black Christian artists, hindering their opportunities. Roger champions that UK gospel has “struggled to recognise who we are” and believes Black creatives are “worth millions,” advocating for greater unity and investment. His story highlights resilience, a commitment to quality production, and a dedication to passing on knowledge to future generations.