A COMMUNITY champion and former production manager for girl band Cleopatra has died after contracting malaria in Africa.
Radio guru Randolph Mike, from Didsbury, was in the Gambia on an extended visit to help organise a national festival when he was rushed into hospital on January 14.
He died two days later, aged just 50.
Randolph’s sister, Georgina O’Brien, from Gorton, said: "It was a real shock to everybody. It is devastating especially for our mother."
One of nine children, Randolph was born in St Kitts and came to this country when he was eight-years-old.
He later went on to work in local radio and became the production manager for Moss Side girl band Cleopatra.
The dad-of-six worked with Senegalese-American hip hop singer songwriter Akon and was instrumental in the creation of a tribute song following the death of Manchester City football star Vivien Foe.
But he was also active in the local community running Bop Top records in Moss Side, working as the entertainment officer for Moss Side Carnival and taking an active role in temporary radio ventures such as Youth Radio, Carnival Radio, Sure Start Radio, Pan African Radio.
He was active in paving the way for Peace FM which was set up to call for an end to gun violence in south Manchester and secured a five year licence for the radio station.
His work also included organising a series of talent competitions including the ‘Brag and Boast’ contest, once won by Simon Webbe who later went on to join boy-band Blue.
He also organised the Bob Marley Festival in Platt Fields Park in 2007.
As a result of his talent-spotting experience he was asked to go to the Gambia to become the Western Africa country’s version of Simon Cowell.
Radio broadcaster Sam Brown, who worked with Randolph for more than 20 years, said: "He believed in Manchester having its own African-Caribbean station run by local people for local people and he worked tirelessly towards that. Peace FM have to thank Randolph for proving there was a need and demand for a local station.
"He was a great ideas man and was always trying different things. He was dear to all of us and his passing has made me look at life a bit differently now. It is a great loss to me as his friend, his family and to the community." A funeral is to be held for Randolph at noon on Friday at Christ Church, Monton Street, Moss Side, M14 4GP. A wake will take place at the West Indian Sports and Social Club in Westwood Street, Manchester at 8pm on Thursday, February 12
