Brian Freshwater

23 February 2023 - Press release

30th June 1947 - 9th February 2023

Brian (‘Fresh / Freshie / Freshbits’) Freshwater began his career in music as a musician with a passion for songwriting. However he soon transferred that passion over to the music industry side, quickly developing a reputation for having "great ears” and for championing artists - whilst Professional Manager at Screen Gems EMI Music he was responsible for signing Hi Tension and Dexys Midnight Runners.

Brian left EMI to set up Freshwater Management, representing British soul acts Linx, David Grant, Jaki Graham, Junior Giscombe, Peace by Piece, Andrea Grant and Haywoode. 

Junior’s massive worldwide hit “Mama Used To Say” was written by Junior and Bob Carter in Brian’s office in Harley House, which had quickly become a happy hub of creativity.  Brian also represented producer Bob Carter and songwriting team Leeson & Vale, writers of the triple Ivor Novello Award winning “Would I Lie To You”, which was recorded by Charles & Eddie and went on to be No 1 in six countries and top 5 in a further twelve.  Brian was hugely involved in persuading Lemar and his team to cover the Leeson & Vale written “If There’s Any Justice” which has become his most successful single to date, peaking at No. 2 in the UK Charts.  

Enjoying chart success after linking Derek Bramble with both David Grant and Jaki Graham, Brian went on to represent the writer/producer/multi-instrumentalist throughout a long career which has seen Derek work with David Bowie, Heatwave, Anastacia, Will Smith and Whitney Houston amongst many others.  Derek has described Brian as “my guy and my sounding board”. 

During this period Brian won his first MOBO award with Peace by Piece - and most significantly Linx became the first black act to feature on the front cover of the NME and also the first black British act to be nominated for a BRIT award (best newcomer).  Then once again in 1984 David Grant was nominated at the BRITs for best newcomer. In the early 90’s Brian also began managing Carrie Grant, guiding her and David’s musical collaboration to a MOBO award winning album. 

He then began the repositioning of Carrie and David, which saw them pivot into successful TV entertainment careers. This began  with Pop Idol then extended to Fame Academy, The One and Only, Can't Sing Singers, the RTA nominated Pop Shop and the BAFTA winning Glee Club among many others.  He also secured a book deal for them. They wrote the best selling "You Can Sing”, which went on to become the world's top selling vocal coaching book. 

Having already been friends for 20 years, Brian and Jacqueline Hughes (Fresh and Jac) started working together in 2000, setting up Freshwater Hughes Management with the intention of specialising in the representation of artists, producers and songwriters working specifically in the genre of “soul”.   

Freshwater Hughes Management’s first signing to their new company in 2000 was 13-year old Joss Stone. By 2003 and at the age of 16, Joss had achieved massive global success with her debut album “The Soul Sessions”, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, nominated for a MOBO Award and by 2012 had sold in excess of 5 million copies worldwide.  In 2005 Joss won 2  BRIT awards and has gone on to win a Grammy and sell over 12 million albums.

Second signing to the company was Irish singer songwriter Foy Vance who, as an artist, had built a strong following which included a then unknown Ed Sheeran. Foy has since become one of Ed’s regular collaborators and one of the UK’s most in demand songwriters.  During this period Freshwater Hughes Management formed Wurdamouth Records with Foy and released his debut album “Hope”.

In 2006 at the 33rd Annual Gold Badge Awards Brian and Jacqueline received the prestigious award voted for by their contemporaries at the MMF, which recognises the achievements of outstanding contribution to the British Music Industry.

The company had just been preparing to release long awaited new music by Conner Reeves, an artist whom Fresh was absolutely passionate about - he was determined to be here to see out the planto release a new album.  Sadly it wasn’t to be.

A 12-year old Joss’s name for him, was BFG (Big Friendly Giant) and to those who have loved and worked most closely with him, it comes as no surprise that the same words of condolence are now being used over and over again to describe this wonderful man: 

-  kind, thoughtful, mild mannered, honest and full of integrity, with one message capturing perfectly what so many have been expressing: 

- “a true gent in an industry where that undervalued quality is in short supply”.

This gentle giant of a man with an encyclopedic knowledge of music contributed so much, in particular to the UK soul music industry, and was held in the highest esteem by all those who worked with him. His loss will leave a huge Fresh-shaped hole in the lives of all who knew and loved him.

Jacqui Hughes

 

Brian’s funeral will be held on March 8^th 2023. For further info please contact Jacqui at hughesee@freshwaterhughes.com