| BOY CHANA |
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Photographer, writer and DJ Boy Chana is one of British Bhangra's most enduring and entertaining characters; one of the few to take a camera to every pub, club, gig and daytimer. Built up over twenty-five years, his archive of intimate and unpretentious images bears witness to the Bhangra explosion. One of the first to document the stories and personalities behind the new sound, he became closely associated with its rise. Despite his youth, the fifteen year old Boy Chana became a published journalist; in Multi Mag (1987), and a year later in Eastern Eye. Asian communities were served by Community Radio irrelevant to Boy Chana's generation. Young people, as now, were drawn to the world of pirate radio, and he learned his trade as an outlaw DJ for six years. A more established Boy Chana moved to Radio XL and managed students who set up Meri Boli fanzine in 1988, whilst continuing work for Eastern Eye and becoming a frequent correspondent until into the late 1990s. Despite his success, Boy Chana remembers his roots. Born in Uganda, the three-month-old Gursharan Chana came to Lozells, Handsworth in 1972. Soho Road became the centre of family life, although there were hard times. During the Handsworth riots in 1985 Gursharan and his family were at the geographical heart of the uprising. Bizarrely, because they welcomed bewildered journalists and had a phone in the house,their home became a pressroom. The young Gursharan was inspired. Compulsively and a little idealistically, Gursharan began to document the cultural and social changes around him through his own photography and writing. Boy Chana is our Bhangra Champion for the West Midlands and the South West. Boychana Biography Boychana - in his own words Comments (7)
jat
said:
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| u d jat in the world hold it jatt kat the datt and peela shrab>>>> |
sonny
said:
| you this boy is sick - should he not be called man chana Member Bhangra Empire |
bhupinder singh kullar (tubs)
said:
| i have known "Gursh" for as long as i can remember, mwe were both members of the congregation at the Dasmesh Temple (as it was known to us then) his father inspired me to play tabla, his brothers are keen sports men and electricians..... he is not just a champion himself but comes from a family of champions! |
Brinda Chana (his wife)
said:
| Chana is definately a peoples person, who is inspired by all the bhangra artists, (singers and dancers) around him, and by writing he feels he is recognising the Punjabi entertaining world. I don't feel Chana will ever stop bigging up all the people he loves working along side. I'm very proud of the work he has done. While there is music and dance there will always be a "BOY Chana". Well done our kid!!!xxxxxxxx |
paul keeling
said:
| knew boy chana in brum 93 - 94. working at the bbc, we had a great time and he is a great man! good to see him here! |
Boy Chana
said:
| Just wanted to offer my sincere condolensces to the family of a legend of UK Bhangra music - Mr Balbir Singh Khanpur who passed away this month December 2008 - A legend fom Bhujangy Group - An inspiration and part of a group who gave life to the UK Bhangra music industry |
guddi
said:
| in brum when you talk about bhangra the name boy chana is synonomous with bhangra... from the scholl halls where wedding receptions consisted of a few men palying the tabla and harmonica singing tradtional desi tunes to the daytimers ..... throught the riots of handsworth... the way way bhangra rose as a phoneix from the flames of the riots which bought down Lozells road.......... boy chana captured the mood and tempo of all pepole who were involved on the bhangra scene in those days...... apapche indian, DCS,Sahotas, Dj Sanj, XLNC, etc. i can go on. Boy Chana is definetly at teh fore front of Britsh Bhangra ...... well done sooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of you ........ not only does he hod the archives and memories of Bhangra days in the 80's and 90's but his tireless charity work................... we thank you for your contrubution to to place the Panjab on the map ....... |
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