Flip Fraser

Peter Randolph Fraser, known as Flip Fraser (25 October 1951 – 31 August 2014), was a Jamaican-British journalist and playwright. Fraser was founding editor of The Voice. He also wrote and directed the stage musical Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame,[1] the first all-black cast production to play in the West End of London.[2]

Flip Fraser
Born
Peter Randolph Fraser

25 October 1951
Kingston, Jamaica
Died31 August 2014(2014-08-31) (aged 62)
London, England
EducationVaz Prep School; Jamaica College; Bradford University
Occupation(s)Journalist and playwright
Known forBlack Heroes in the Hall of Fame
SpouseJoyce Fraser

Life

Fraser was born on 25 October 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica. After attending Vaz Prep School,[1] he won a scholarship to Jamaica College.[3] At the age of 15[1] or 16, he moved to the UK when his father was posted to the Jamaican High Commission in London. After completing secondary schooling, he enrolled to study chemistry at Bradford University but dropped out after becoming allergic to the chemicals.[2]

Working in the music industry with record label Trojan Records, he became interested in the media.[4] After studying media and journalism at Tennessee State University, where he was a contemporary of Oprah Winfrey, he wrote for West Indian World, Sounds, Caribbean Times and West Indian Digest. In 1982, Val McCalla recruited him to be the first editor of The Voice.[2]

Fraser later worked as a special projects, arts and entertainment officer for Camden Council. There he worked with J. D. Douglas, and the pair collaborated to write and stage Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame, with music by Khareem Jamal.[5] The show opened at the Shaw Theatre in 1987, with original cast members including lover's rock singer Jean Adebambo, actor and musician Count Prince Miller, reggae musician Lloyd Brown and actor Fraser James. The musical later toured America,[6] where Fraser and others were invited to the home of Louis Farrakhan.[2]

Fraser died at St Thomas' Hospital, London, on 31 August 2014, aged 62.[3] A memorial service was held at St Martin's-in-the-Fields.[1] In 2016, his widow Joyce established a charity, the Black Heroes Foundation, in his memory.[2]

References
  1. Abdul Rob (15 October 2015). "In Remembrance: Celebrating the Life of Peter Fraser". Black History Month. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. Imogen Howse (19 October 2020). "Widow honours husband with charity celebrating black heroes". SWLondoner. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  3. Elizabeth Pears (7 September 2014). "Black hero Flip Fraser joins the hall of fame". Jamaica Gleaner.
  4. Grant, Dionne (31 August 2014). "First Editor Of The Voice Newspaper Flip Fraser Dies". The Voice.
  5. Kambona, Neema. "Making History with Black Heroes – JD Douglas Sets the Record Straight". Diversity Business Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. Barnidge, Mary Shen (28 March 1991). "Black Heroes in the Hall of Fame/Imagining America/Sex Lives of Superheroes". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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