Sonny Roberts (1932 – March 17, 2021), often known as Sonny Orbitone, was a Jamaicanrecord producer who had success within the British reggae market in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s with his Planetone and Orbitone record labels.
Born in 1932 in Spice Grove, Manchester Parish, Roberts, who was originally a carpenter, emigrated to London in 1958.[1] In 1961, he set up a recording studio in the basement of 108 Cambridge Road (a property owned by future Trojan Records founder Lee Gopthal), the first in Britain owned by a Jamaican.[2] He started the Planetone label the following year (and later the Sway label), sharing premises with Island Records which provided distribution for the label, releasing ska records by artists such as Rico Rodriguez and also gospel records.[1][3][4][5] The studio and record label operated until the late 1960s.[1] He also cut acetates, which he supplied to local sound systems.[6]
In the mid-1970s, he opened a record shop in Harlesden and started the Orbitone label, which was one of the key lovers rock labels, with releases by artists such as Tim Chandell, Judy Boucher and Joyce Bond, as well as releasing Nigerian music.[1]
In 1987, his production of Judy Boucher's "Can't Be with You Tonight" reached number two in the UK Singles Chart.[1][7]
He returned to Jamaica in 1997, living in Saint Andrew Parish, where he ran a company producing natural colouring and seasoning products.[1]
Roberts died in Saint Andrew of throat cancer on 17 March 2021, aged 89.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgCampbell, Howard (2012) "The unheralded trailblazer", Jamaica Observer, 27 June 2012, retrieved 2012-07-01
^Campbell, Howard (2015) "A pioneer gets his due", Jamaica Observer, 1 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015
^Smith, Steve Alexander (2009) British Black Gospel: The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound, Monarch Books, ISBN978-1854248961, p. 60
^Donnelly, Mark (2005) Sixties Britain: Culture, Society and Politics, Longman, ISBN978-1405801102, p. 47
^de Koningh, Michael & Cane-Honeysett, Laurence (2003) Young Gifted and Black: The Story of Trojan Records, Sanctuary Publishing, ISBN1-86074-464-8, p. 27
^Bradley, Lloyd (2000) This Is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaican Music, Grove Press, ISBN0-8021-3828-4, p. 124-5
^"Judy Boucher(Link redirected to OCC website)", Chart Stats, retrieved 2012-07-01
^Campbell, Howard (2021) "Pioneer producer Sonny Roberts dead at 89", Jamaica Observer, 20 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021
January 01, 1970
sonny, roberts, 1932, march, 2021, often, known, sonny, orbitone, jamaican, record, producer, success, within, british, reggae, market, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, with, planetone, orbitone, record, labels, born1932spice, grove, manchester, parish, jamaicadiedmarch, . Sonny Roberts 1932 March 17 2021 often known as Sonny Orbitone was a Jamaican record producer who had success within the British reggae market in the 1960s 1970s and 1980s with his Planetone and Orbitone record labels Sonny RobertsBorn1932Spice Grove Manchester Parish JamaicaDiedMarch 17 2021 aged 89 Saint Andrew Parish JamaicaGenresSka gospel lovers rockOccupation s Record producerYears active1961 1980sLabelsPlanetone Sway Orbitone Born in 1932 in Spice Grove Manchester Parish Roberts who was originally a carpenter emigrated to London in 1958 1 In 1961 he set up a recording studio in the basement of 108 Cambridge Road a property owned by future Trojan Records founder Lee Gopthal the first in Britain owned by a Jamaican 2 He started the Planetone label the following year and later the Sway label sharing premises with Island Records which provided distribution for the label releasing ska records by artists such as Rico Rodriguez and also gospel records 1 3 4 5 The studio and record label operated until the late 1960s 1 He also cut acetates which he supplied to local sound systems 6 In the mid 1970s he opened a record shop in Harlesden and started the Orbitone label which was one of the key lovers rock labels with releases by artists such as Tim Chandell Judy Boucher and Joyce Bond as well as releasing Nigerian music 1 Roberts also ran the Love Vendor sound system 1 In 1987 his production of Judy Boucher s Can t Be with You Tonight reached number two in the UK Singles Chart 1 7 He returned to Jamaica in 1997 living in Saint Andrew Parish where he ran a company producing natural colouring and seasoning products 1 Roberts died in Saint Andrew of throat cancer on 17 March 2021 aged 89 8 References edit a b c d e f g Campbell Howard 2012 The unheralded trailblazer Jamaica Observer 27 June 2012 retrieved 2012 07 01 Campbell Howard 2015 A pioneer gets his due Jamaica Observer 1 August 2015 Retrieved 8 August 2015 Smith Steve Alexander 2009 British Black Gospel The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound Monarch Books ISBN 978 1854248961 p 60 Donnelly Mark 2005 Sixties Britain Culture Society and Politics Longman ISBN 978 1405801102 p 47 de Koningh Michael amp Cane Honeysett Laurence 2003 Young Gifted and Black The Story of Trojan Records Sanctuary Publishing ISBN 1 86074 464 8 p 27 Bradley Lloyd 2000 This Is Reggae Music The Story of Jamaican Music Grove Press ISBN 0 8021 3828 4 p 124 5 Judy Boucher Link redirected to OCC website Chart Stats retrieved 2012 07 01 Campbell Howard 2021 Pioneer producer Sonny Roberts dead at 89 Jamaica Observer 20 March 2021 Retrieved 24 March 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonny Roberts amp oldid 1197986571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
