Big Up Bob Andy

I got to go back home- nuh true (dedicated to all Yardies abroad)

Time to Say Goodbye to All

The Jamaican Observer recent article mentions that several sendoff will be occuring in the next couple of days. Noticeably the late great Sonia Pottinger will have her sendoff on Friday, November 19th at 10am at the St Andrew Parish Church.

The following day, Saturday November 20, starting at 10:00 a.m, there will be a Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the life of Reggae star, Gregory Isaac's. The viewing of Gregory’s body will take place at the same venue the day before the funeral between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 

The body of the legendary Reggae artiste who died in England on October 25, 2010, was flown to Jamaica on Thursday, November 11, 2010.

Youth, Sports and Culture minister Olivia Grange said her ministry will be assisting the Isaacs family with the arrangements for the Thanksgiving Service being planned.

Source: Go Jamaica and Jamaica Observer

The Melodians

I remember in the late sixties being introduced to the sounds of The Melodians. Their rich sound made you want to move your feet. The voices always in perfect harmony.
The melodians band formed in the Greenwich Town area of Kingston, Jamaica in 1965, by Tony Brevett (brother of The Skatalites bassist, Lloyd Brevett), Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton. Renford Cogle assisted with writing and arranging material.


From 1967 to 1968 they had a number of hits on Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label, including "You Have Caught Me", "Expo 67", "I'll Get Along Without You", and "You Don't Need Me." After recording "Swing and Dine" for record producer Sonia Pottinger, they recorded their biggest hit, "Rivers of Babylon" for Leslie Kong. This song became an anthem of the Rastafarian movement, and was featured on the soundtrack for the movie, The Harder They Come.[1] After Kong's death in 1971, they recorded for Lee Perry and Byron Lee's Dynamic Studios. In 1973, Brent Dowe left the group for a solo career. The group reformed briefly a few years later, and again in the early 1980's.


The had their revival in the 1990's. In 1992 they recorded "Song of Love", which was issued on the Tappa Zukie label. Throughout the later 1990s they continued touring internationally, including appearing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in California in 2002. In November 2005 The Melodians embarked on a West Coast tour.


On the evening of 28 January 2006, after a rehearsal in preparation for a performance to take place the following weekend at the Jamaican Prime Minister’s residence, Brent Dowe suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 59. The remaining original members Tony Brevett and Trevor McNaughton continued touring in Europe and the U.S. backed by the Yellow Wall Dub Squad.


Albums


* Rivers of Babylon (Trojan, 1970)
* Sweet Sensation (Trojan, 1976)
* Sweet Sensation: The Original Reggae Hit Sound (Island, 1980)
* Irie Feelings (Ras, 1983)
* Premeditation (Skynote, 1986)


[edit] Compilation albums


* Swing and Dine (Heartbeat, 1993)
* Rivers of Babylon (Trojan, 1997)
* Sweet Sensation: The Best of the Melodians (Trojan, 2003)

Sonya Spence

She is arguably the most talented artist that came out of the 70's in Jamaica. This was one of my favorite albums growing up.

Rest In Peace Sonia Pottinger

 

Many people know my Aunt Sonia Pottinger as accomplished reggae producer.  She was the best in the business from the early 1960's to the mid 80's when she retired. She was however much more than that. She had the kindest heart and the most spiritual person I know.

Mrs. P, was like a mother to me. She helped me through many hard times in my life. I know how the public knew her, but her kids and family new her when she wasn't running to manage Tip Top Records or to the studio to make sure everything was going right.

Short Biography taken from Wikipedia

Sonia Pottinger, married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she opened her Tip Top Records Shop in 1965 and started to record musicians in 1966. The first single she issued was "Every Night" by Joe White & Chuck.[1] Other artists recorded during this period include Roland Alphonso. Throughout the rock steady and early reggae eras, she became very prolific with hits by The Ethiopians ("The Whip"), Delano Stewart, The Melodians ("Swing And Dine"), Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis and Toots & the Maytals, released on her Gay Feet, Tip Top, Rainbow, and High Note labels.[1] In the early 1970s her work was less prolific, but in 1974 she bought the Treasure Isle label from long time friend Duke Reid shortly before his death.

In the 1970s, she produced albums by Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths, Culture, U Roy and Big Youth. Her most well known production is Culture's Harder Than The Rest album, released in 1978.

In the dancehall era show produced Archie & Lynn's "Rat in the Centre". She retired from the music business in 1985.[1]

Releases

198X

• Marcus Garvey

Productions

• Alton Ellis - Greatest Hits [1973]
• Bob Andy - Lots Of Love & I [1977]
• Brent Dowe - Build Me Up [1973]
• Culture - Culture In Dub [1978]
• Culture - Cumbolo [1979]
• Culture - Harder Than The Rest [1978]
• Culture - International Herb [1979]
• Culture - Production Something [197X]
• Culture - Too Long In Slavery [197X]
• Culture - Trod On [197X]
• Culture - Vital Selection [1978-79]
• Delano Stewart - Stay A Little Bit Longer [1970]
• Errol Brown - Dub Over Dub [197X]
• Errol Brown - Pleasure Dub [197X]
• Errol Dunkley - Darling Ooh [1972]
• Hippy Boys - Reggae With The Hippy Boys [1969]
• Joseph Cotton - Dancehall Days [1976-84]
• Justin Hinds - From Jamaica With Reggae [196X]
• Marcia Griffiths - Naturally [1978]
• Marcia Griffiths - Steppin' [1978]
• Melodians - Pre-Meditation [197X]
• Melodians - Swing And Dine [196X-7X]
• Revolutionaries - Dub Expression [1978]
• Revolutionaries - Medley Dub [197X]
• Slim Smith - Just A Dream [1972]
• Sonya Spence - In The Dark [197X]
• U Roy - Original DJ [197X]
• U Roy - With Words Of Wisdom [1979]
• U Roy & Dennis Alcapone - Version Galore Vol 2 [1972]
• U Roy & Various Artists - Version Galore Vol 3 [1973]
• Various Artists - Hottest Hits [197X]
• Various Artists - Musical Feast [197X]
• Various Artists - The Reggae Train [197X]

Others

Arranger

• Sonya Spence - In The Dark [197X]

Victory for Sonia Pottinger- Long time coming

Sonia Pottinger

The official ruling has been made that Sonia Pottinger is the rightful owner of the Treasure Isle's recording catalog, previously owned by its late founder, the legendary record producer Duke Reid. The landmark ruling was handed down in chamber at the Supreme Court in Kingston last Wednesday. The Jamaica Recording and Publishing Studio Limited (the famed Studio One founded and operated by the late Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, ace rival to Duke Reid) was first defendant. Second defendant was Anthony Reid, son of Duke Reid, Treasure Isle Records International Limited (the company started by Duke Reid's son) was third defendant and Edward 'Bunny' Lee fourth defendant.

Well this is very good news to hear. Mrs Sonia Pottinger (or those who know her best call her Ms P.), has been wronged for many years. I was elated to read that she finally has gotten this victory. I know her daughter, Sharon Pottinger, has been fighting for this for many years.

Sonia Pottinger (born c. 1940) is a Jamaican reggae record producer.

The most important Jamaican woman involved in music business, Mrs Pottinger's produced artists from the mid 1960s until the mid 1980s.

Married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she opened her Tip Top Records Shop in the mid 1960s and started to record musicians in 1966. The first single she issued (recorded at Federal Recording Studios) was a Baba Brooks tune which became a Jamaican hit. Other artists recorded during this period include Roland Alphonso. Throughout the rocksteady and early reggae eras, she became very prolific with hits by The Ethiopians ("The Whip"), Delano Stewart, The Melodians ("Swing And Dine"), Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis and Toots & The Maytals. In the 1970s, she produced albums by Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths, Culture, U Roy and Big Youth. Her most well known production is Culture's Harder Than The Rest album, released in 1978.

This tribute  above (wikipedia) just touches the surface of this wonderful legend. Miss P was like my second mother in  my teen years. Wait what am I saying,  she was my guardian so she was pretty much my Mom. Being surrounded by all those wonderful artist back in the 70's and early 80's was indeed a thrill. The strange thing was I never thought of them as artist because they were just regular folks.  When I worked at the record store I got to experience things that most teens didn't, seeing the record (vinyl) being made. Orange Street in Kingston was so alive then. Many tourist would walk up from the Harbor and make their way up the street.

Below are some examples of Miss P's work.

• Alton Ellis - Cry Tough [197X]
• Bob Andy - Lots Of Love & I [1977]
• Brent Dowe - Build Me Up [1973]
• Culture - Culture In Dub [1978]
• Culture - Cumbolo [1979]
• Culture - Harder Than The Rest [1978]
• Culture - International Herb [1979]
• Culture - Production Something [197X]
• Culture - Too Long In Slavery [197X]
• Culture - Trod On [197X]
• Culture - Vital Selection [1978-79]
• Delano Stewart - Stay  A Little Bit Longer [1970]
• Errol Brown - Dub Over Dub [197X]
• Errol Dunkley - Darling Ooh [1972]
• Hippy Boys - Reggae With The Hippy Boys [1969]
• Joseph Cotton - Dancehall Days [1976-84]
• Justin Hinds - From Jamaica With Reggae [196X]
• Marcia Griffiths - Naturally [1978]
• Marcia Griffiths - Steppin' [1978]
• Melodians - Pre-Meditation [197X]
• Melodians - Swing And Dine [196X-7X]
• Revolutionaries - Dub Expression [1978]
• Revolutionaries - Medley Dub [197X]
• Slim Smith - Just A Dream [1972]
• Sonia Pottinger - Marcus Garvey [198X]
• Sonya Spence - In The Dark [197X]
• U Roy - Original DJ [197X]
• U Roy - With Words Of Wisdom [1979]
• U Roy & Dennis Alcapone - Version Galore Vol 2 [1972]
• U Roy & Various Artists - Version Galore Vol 3 [1973]
• Various Artists - Hottest Hits [197X]
• Various Artists - Musical Feast [197X]

Source: Jamaica Observer