Sonia Pottinger Biography & Awards

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Artist Info

Born

1943 Jamaica

Biography

Sonia Pottinger is not only one of the few women producers in Jamaica, but, also one of the most successful. Three of her productions were included on a list of top 100 Jamaican hits of all time compiled by Clinton Lindsay of WNWK-FM in New York. Joe White's 1968 recording of "Every Night" was listed as number 40, while Delano Stewart's 1968 single of "That's Life" placed 86, and Marcia Griffith's 1976 single of "Dreamland" placed 98. Pottinger was also responsible for recordings by Judy Mowatt, Sister Carol, and Culture, many of which were released on her High Note label. Pottinger proved adept at recruiting talented session musicians for her recordings. Among the musicians that she used were Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Ernest Ranglin, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Dean Fraser, Roland Alphonso, and Count Ossie. Pottinger has also been involved with the Heartbeat label. Heartbeat released a multi-artist compilation, Reggae Songbirds: 17 Great Tracks From the High Note Label, in 1996 and Trod On, a compilation of tracks that Pottinger produced for three albums by Culture: Harder Than the Rest, Cumbolo, and International Herb. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide