Ed Sheeran has paid tribute to SBTV founder Jamal Edwards, revealing in a heartbreaking social media post he 'would not be here without him.'
Music entrepreneur Edwards gained fame after setting up the music platform in 2006, and was credited with helping to launch a string of UK music acts to stardom, including Dave, Jessie J and Sheeran.
He died on Sunday 20 February, age 31, following a 'sudden illness.'
Sharing a photo on Instagram of younger-looking versions of Sheeran and Edwards, the Thinking Out Loud singer, 31, captioned it: “I haven’t posted anything coz I can’t find the words, I can’t reply coz I don’t know what to say.
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“Jamal is my brother. His light shone so bright.
“He only used it to illuminate others and never asked for anything in return.
“A stars light shines for millions of years after they go, and his will continue to light up every dark moment, we are all witnessing his power.
“I would not be here without him, professionally and personally.
“There will never be anything close to what he is, but I’m so grateful to have existed within his orbit. My brother, come on.”
On Wednesday, singer and TV presenter Brenda Edwards shared a family photo of her and her son following his death.
The Loose Women star, 52, posted on her Instagram and Twitter accounts for the first time since her son’s death to share two photos of her with him and her daughter Tanisha at a photoshoot, where they can be seen smiling and laughing with one another.
In a previous statement, which was read out on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday and shared on Loose Women’s Twitter account, Edwards said: “It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm that my beautiful son Jamal Edwards passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness.
“Myself, his sister Tanisha, and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world.
“As we come to terms with his passing, we ask for privacy to grieve this unimaginable loss. I would like to thank everyone for their messages of love and support.
“Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PhD.”
Edwards was also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a charity headed up by the Prince of Wales, and in 2014 was awarded an MBE for his services to music.
A host of figures from the British music industry and beyond have shared tributes to Edwards, including rapper Dave, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Sir Richard Branson and former prime minister David Cameron.
Elsewhere, Jessie J shared an emotional video video of the pair laughing and joking to her Instagram Stories, which she simply captioned: "I'm heartbroken."
