The career of Mad Professor, a Croydon-based reggae producer, is being showcased in a mini exhibition at the Museum of Croydon. 

Mad Professor, or Neil Fraser, is a dub music producer and sound engineer who was born in Guyana but moved to London when he was just 13 years old.  

Listen to some of his best tracks here: 

When he first began producing music, he built his own self-built recording studios called ‘Ariwa’ in Thornton Heath, near Croydon, where he lived from 1978 to 1982.   

His studio is a true ‘analogue’ studio, as it still uses tape rather than computers. The stage name ‘Mad Professor’ came from his ability to build his own producing kit and effects. 

He is known for his original productions and remixes in which he worked with artists such as Sister Audrey, Desmond Decker and Mikey Dread. With a catalogue of more than 300 titles, he won best reggae producer for seven successive years. 

Dub is a genre which originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. Influenced by reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, it consists mainly of remixes of existing tracks. Bass and drums are emphasised, and immersive sounds are added, giving dub an otherworldly sound.  

In the 70s, dub travelled from Jamaica to London, where there was and still is a large reggae scene.  

Some of the most influential dub artists of the 60s and 70s were King Tubby, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Prince Jammy. Famous dub artists were not singers, but producers of the music.  

Mad Professor produced many hit songs in the 80s such as Country Living by Sandra Cross and If I gave my heart to you by John Mclean. He also created re-mix production for big artists such as Massive Attack, The Orb and Jamariquai.  

He has been active since the late 70s and has been releasing records from his own label, ‘Ariwa’, every year since 1978.  

In the exhibition, his work and legacy are displayed through art and screen.  

The mini exhibition is part of the ‘This is Croydon’ programmes as London Borough of Culture, a Mayor of London initiative which is funded by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage fund.  

The Museum of Croydon told ELL: “It is so important to highlight Croydon artists especially BAME artists and local studios like Ariwa Sounds. To share with wider audiences the origins of Dub and Reggae music and its relevance to Croydon and South London.”

“Not only music, this exhibition also inspires art and design. The album artworks say so much about the time period in which they were produced, there is an unexpected cultural and social history underpinning each piece.”

Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry said in a statement that the London Borough of Culture initiative has: “Put Croydon on the map for all the right reasons and showcased the abundance of talent here in our borough.”  

The exhibition is on until February 7 and is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 5pm.