Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddy Edwards.
Hi Eddy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Throughout my early years growing up in Jamaica, listening to music was my passion. This passion led me to become a DJ and Entrepreneur, promoting parties and events at various venues. Once I settled in South Florida, I was active in the community and was the Founding President of Jamaica Awareness, Inc., an organization which successfully promoted the Jamaica Independence festival and other cultural events to the young and vibrant Caribbean community. It was during that same period that I also started to produce and host Caribbean Riddims, a weekly radio program which rapidly became popular and continues to air today on CANEradio.com. On Thanksgiving weekend in 1986, Myself, Ron Burke and Billy T promoted a Caribbean party at Stinger Lounge, which at the time was programming Latin music. The party was a sold-out hit and the owner offered us to the opportunity promote Caribbean parties at the venue every weekend. Stinger Lounge became the most popular nightclub and entertainment hub for the Caribbean community during the eighties and early nineties. Being savvy entrepreneaurs, we struck a deal to purchase the business from the owner, and continued to operate the business profitably for over 20 years.
As the nightclub business fizzled, it was time to move on as I had become a reputable event producer with a vast network of contacts within the rapidly growing Caribbean community in South Florida. This led me to begin to leverage my production and marketing talent to attract corporate organizations and government agencies looking to grow their business by reaching this vibrant, diversified market of Caribbean immigrants. It was at that time that Riddims Marketing was formed.
In 2001 I co-founded the first Jamaican Jerk Festival at C. B. Smith Park, Pembroke Pines to much success. Within three years, the event outgrew the park, attracting over 6,000, which caused us to relocate to the expansive Markham Park. The attendance rapidly grew at Markham, peaking at 16,000, positively impacting South Florida culturally and economically, attracting visitors from other states. Working with a dedicated team, the festival has attracted support from organizations such as Grace Foods, Publix Supermarkets, Western Union, the Jamaica Tourst Board, the City of Miramar and the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Conventions and Visitors Bureau.
My personal philosophy is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” a maxim which has guided me from childhood. I find motivation in the words of Nelson Mandela, “It always seem impossible until it is done.” I’m an avid runner, who tries to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I’m married to Bridget for 36 years and am the proud father of a son who is a City of Miami firefighter/paramedic.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am grateful and thankful as I have not experienced many obstacles or challenges in life which I did not overcome. Losing my father in a tragic car accident at age ten was painful, but my Mother and Grandparents provided a loving and caring home for me and I think that my positive attitude has served me well in life.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned earlier, Riddims Marketing helps corporate organizations and government agencies access multicultural communities in North America, We provide our clients with a customized suite of services to include strategy, creative, production, logistics and event management. Our ability to effectively reach Caribbean-American diaspora markets in North America sets up apart from the competition.
We are known for producing successful events, effective marketing strategies and a reputation for quality. We work with clients such as the Victoria Mutual Building Society, Digicel, The Jamaica Tourist Board, The City of Miramar, City of Tamarac, and we are associated with the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival. We work well with political candidates running for office who want to penetrate our diverse community of Caribbean immigrants. Recent clients include Commissioner Yvette Colbourne in Miramar, State Rep. Marie Woodson, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava and West Park Commissioner Joy B. Smith. One of our proud moments was in 2020 when Riddims Marketing was selected to be the agency to place radio ads in South and Central Florida for the Biden-Harris Presidental campaign and also for the Democratic Party. We have a great relationship with media outlets and can leverage that relationship to effective reach the Caribbean community and deliver positive results for our clients.
What does success mean to you?
Success is achieving the goal established.
Contact Info:
- Email: eddy@riddimsmarketing.com
- Website: www.RiddimsMarketing.com
- Instagram: @Riddimspr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiddimsMarketing
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiddimsPR
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_WQYOjPT2NtZS-VFU3F6Zg
