COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.

Derbyshire Flats

I love my music of course, but my key interest is probably music tourism.

Without blowing my own trumpet too much I have been behind a few music tourism projects like the 2-Tone Trail, The Coventry Music Wall of Fame and the Coventry Walk of Fame.

So imagine my delight, on a recent trip into Coventry city centre and seeing the name Derbyshire as one of the names on a new block of designer apartments.

I thought it was something of a coincidence that they hit upon that name, until I noticed some familiar names of other outstanding Coventry female icons.

So huge respect to the people behind Greyfriars Court in Sadler Road – not only is Coventry electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire there with her fame for realising the Doctor Who theme tune, but also, we have actress Billie Whitelaw, and the Mill on The Floss writer George Eliot.

Angela Brazil writer of modern schoolgirl stories is also there, indeed she lived in the Quadrant not far from the flats, and then there’s former Lord Mayor of Coventry Pearl Hyde.

I’m presuming ‘Countess’ is named after Lady Anne Somerset, the Countess of Coventry, and that Bray is Cara Bray who was a British writer of children’s stories and school textbooks.

With her husband Charles Bray, she was a Freethinker and friend of George Eliot.

So well done Mandale homes for some great community research and keeping some amazing Coventry women’s names alive.

Levi Washington

Big shout out to Leamington’s Levi Washington, a huge talent who is certainly making a name for himself in the area and beyond.

Levi is one of those musicians that has it all – he can play guitar, bass keyboards and has a voice to die for.

His songwriting and song production is also exemplary, and he really is one to watch.

He’s also just won a business award, quite a résumé.

No surprise then when he describes himself like this: “I’m a singer/songwriter, rapper, beat maker, music producer and multi-instrumentalist.”

‘Everywhere I Turn I See The Devil’ is a superbly written ballad with a slight nod to country, while ‘Here To Stay’ takes on a jazzy blues stylee and his latest song ‘Mind Right’ (Remix Feat Cubz and Brudez) pretty much brings it up-to-date with its rap refrains.

I asked him about how he thought his career in music would pan out.

He said: “I know my future will be full to the brim with amazing peers and plenty of continued hard work and success in music and business.”

So where do we get to see Levi?

He plays four to six times-a-week around the West Midlands and stay up-to-date on social media – @leviwashingtonmusic.

Levi’s talent is in evidence in every way you look, check him out soon to find out what all the fuss is about.