Perhaps better known to Leeds music fans as Chunky Butt Funky, this soul and funk legend will be storming the main stage at Black Music Festival 2016. Rev. Chunky, a nickname he picked up in the United States after spending time as a minister of music in the early 90s, and his band have been working together since 1999, wowing crowds with music from their gospel roots melded with the secular sounds of soul, funk and reggae.

Born in Hammersmith Rev. Chunky has lived in Leeds since his teen with a brief residency in his parents’ homeland in Jamaica for four years. Rev. Chunky’s world has always revolved around music with his musical background fostered through his Pentecostal churchgoing as a youngster and watching his father play guitar and piano. He counts listening to legendary gospel singer Andrae Crouch at Manchester Apollo when he was 13 as his inspiration, followed by Al Green, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin.

Currently Cleve is working with Manchester legend Kermit Leveridge (Black Grape) and former Hacienda Dj Greg Wilson now heading the record label Super Weird Substance. Directing his choir Voices of the day and musical director to The Garfoth Community Choir. Working closely with The Caution Collective and still finding time to busk in Leeds and surrounding areas bringing his soulful sound to the streets so if you’ve not managed to catch him doing his thing on the streets of Leeds, Black Music Festival is the perfect place to become acquainted with this Leeds legend.

Always a champion of young artists his goals remain the same. To give the best he can offer to as many people he can.