- Who: Dancehall publicist and agent Louise Frazer-Bennet
- Significant Achievements: Handling PR for the Sound System Association of Jamaica, doing press for King Jammy, anti-gun violence activism
- Years Active in the Industry: 80s, 90s, early 00s, until her death until 2003
Although Louise Frazer-Bennet was involved in the music industry in many capacities, she is best known for her role with the Sound System Association of Jamaica (SSAJ). She is sometimes erroneously credited as founding the group - in fact the group was a joint project between 150 different sound systems and was helmed by the owner of Lee's Unlimited - but she was certainly SSAJ's face. Acting as the press officer, she represented the goals of the sound systems to the media and the government. She was also actively involved in talent scouting and sometime was a mother figure to young artists entering the business.
In addition to taking care of PR duties for the SSAJ, Frazer-Bennet spent some time handling PR for dancehall super-producer King Jammy. One of her notable achievements during this time was introducing the Sleng Teng riddim to an international audience - Sleng Teng is considered to be the first completely digital riddim in dancehall and is definitely one of the most popular. To date, there are over 180 versions of Sleng Teng. (To hear Sleng Teng, see this Wayne Smith Under Me Sleng Teng).
Dancehall music is routinely dismissed as misogynistic, but Frazer-Bennet was one of the most powerful figures in the genre. She worked with nearly every big name artists in dancehall, and up and coming artists knew that an audition in front of her could be their big break. The influence she wielded throughout her career defies many people's expectations about the dancehall industry.
Frazer-Bennet was no stranger to violence. She almost lost her life at age 18 when a jealous boyfriend set her on fire. Pregnant at the time of the attack, doctors gave her four days to live. She surprised them, however, and not only did she survive, but so did her baby. Later in life, that daughter was killed in a drug related crime and her son was sent to jail in the UK for a drug offense.
These events in her children's lives inspired Frazer-Bennet to speak out against the sexual nature and especially the violent nature of some dancehall lyrics. She encouraged musicians to clean up their lyrics and sought out up and coming artists with clean lyrics to promote. She started a community program in Jamaica in which she helped at-risk youth channel their attention into making music instead of turning to crime. Her later years in life were almost solely devoted to these causes.
Louise Frazer-Bennet died in October 2003 after a brief illness.
