Boney M singer performs at event to celebrate MBE

BONEY M star Liz Mitchell performed River of Babylon at a reception to celebrate her MBE.

The event was organised and hosted by Dawn Butler MP in the Jubilee Room at Westminster.

Mitchell, the original lead singer of the veteran pop group, was made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in June for her services to music and charity.

She was presented with her medal by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle in November.

The reception also celebrated the Windrush generation, migrants from Caribbean Commonwealth countries who came to the UK between 1948 and 1973.

Mitchell, 72, who lives near Henley, was an ambassador for the Windrush 75th anniversary celebrations in 2023.

Guests at the reception, including her 96-year-old mother Lowess, Windrush elders and MPs, were treated to versions of Rivers of Babylon and the hymn How Great Thou Art with Mitchell performing a capella with friends and family.

Mitchell said she did not intend to sing but it happened naturally.

She said: “We were having a celebration and we ended up singing — we didn’t have a band or anything. There weren’t even playbacks, nothing. But the a capella version worked really well and everyone who was there just felt a good energy and the warmth and happiness that it brought.

“I was telling the story of the struggle that I had over the years, mainly because some members of our group did not sing.

“People had a theory that no one from Boney M sang and I was saying that that was not true and that I sang all the songs. I started to sing so they could identify that I am the singer.

“People were really emotional and loved it. For every singer or artist, it is always good when people respond positively to what you do.

“We are always grateful for the audience because, without them, there would be no one to listen. This audience was different. It was all dignitaries, MPs and people who run charities. I enjoyed it very much. It was a beautiful event.

“MPs kept coming in and people were talking and laughing. There was some serious dancing.”

Mitchell grew up in Harlesden in north-west London during the Sixties after being flown from Jamaica as a schoolgirl to join her parents whom she hadn’t seen in years.

In 1970 she was sent to Germany to perform in the chorus line of the musical Hair alongside fellow wannabe Donna Summer.

In 1976, maverick German producer Frank Farian discovered her, forming his new studio group Boney M around her.

Mitchell is the only member of the group whose voice appears on all their hits, including Sunny, Rasputin, Daddy Cool, Brown Girl in the Ring and Mary’s Boy Child. By 1978 Boney M were outselling ABBA and went on to sell more than 100 million records, making Mitchell one of the most successful female vocalists of all time.

Rivers of Babylon, Brown Girl in the Ring and Mary’s Boy Child still feature in the all-time UK best-selling singles and Mitchell still performs the hits to audiences around the world.

Mrs Butler, who is Labour MP for Brent East, has dubbed Brent the “reggae capital of Europe” as it was also the home of Bob Marley for a time.

She said: “It was a truly special moment to hear Liz perform and the genuine emotion really connected with everyone there.

“I can’t imagine there’s ever been a performance within these centuries-old walls quite like it.”

Mitchell said: “I was invited by Dawn because reggae music has been recognised in Brent as the home of reggae music in Europe.

“It was to open the conversation about the importance of music to our communities.

“Many things have been acknowledged, such as the art of music from different genres, but the reggae genre has been on the scene since the Sixties or maybe before.

“We have had several No 1 hits in our charts and all of those artists are from the Windrush generation. I’m very happy that after nearly 50 years, Rivers of Babylon can still be spoken so loudly.”