大象传媒

Singer Jamelia, who was born and grew up in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, explores music made in the West Midlands - asking if it has a distinct identity.

People from the city and the conurbation have made a huge contribution to music all over the world, but Birmingham rarely seems to get the recognition given to other cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield or London.

In this two-part series, Jamelia looks at the unique and eclectic musical identity of explores the city and the wider West Midlands, and discovers that its reputation for championing the individual or the underdog may lie in the area's rich history.

She hears from experts about Birmingham's musical contribution as far back at the Midlands Enlightenment in the 18th Century as well as the work of composers like Edward Elgar in the late 19th and 20th Century. She also talks to musicians from different genres, hears how they cut their teeth in the pubs and clubs of the West Midlands and explores whether there is a collective Birmingham sound - or at least a special Birmingham approach to music.

Birmingham's musical heritage includes heavy metal and Bhangra, and it's an area where all genres thrive. In the 1950s and 60s, the so-called Brum Beat emerged with the NME saying it included over 500 local bands.

Is Birmingham Britain's original diverse city when it comes to music and culture more generally? That's one of the questions Jamelia will look to answer as she hears from West Midlands experts and stars including ELO drummer Bev Bevan, Reggae singer Pato Banton, Duran Duran original Stephen Duffy and Apache Indian.

Jamelia has a few surprises along the way as she comes face to face with real Birmingham music heritage at a studio where the soundtrack to the legendary Thunderbirds TV series was produced. Grosvenor Road Studios has played host to just about everyone who is anyone in Midlands music since 1945.

A Made In Manchester production for 大象传媒 Radio 4