DJ, musician and cultural entrepreneur, Cecil helped shape the city’s live music scene

Tributes are being paid following the death aged 99 of Cecil Morris, a pioneering icon in Birmingham’s cultural life and a founder of community broadcasting in the city.

Cecil, known to many as “Music Master,” was the founder and owner of People’s Community Radio Link, widely regarded as Birmingham’s first black radio station. 

Launched at a time when black voices, music and perspectives were largely absent from mainstream broadcasting, the station provided a vital outlet for community discussion and cultural expression. 

It became known for playing soul, reggae and R&B, while also offering space for debate and connection within Birmingham’s Black communities.

‘My grandfather believed deeply in giving people a voice’

His influence extended far beyond the station itself. As a DJ, musician and cultural entrepreneur, Cecil helped shape the city’s live music scene and wider public conversation. 

His granddaughter, Zardia Shields, said: “My grandfather believed deeply in giving people a voice when they were not being heard.

“Cecil built something that was about community, culture and pride and his legacy lives on in the many lives he touched.”

People’s Community Radio Link went on to inspire future generations of broadcasters, musicians and community organisers, and is remembered as a cornerstone of Birmingham’s social and cultural identity.