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Sonny Roberts (July 26, 1931 – March 17, 2021), often known as Sonny Orbitone, was a record producer who had success within the British ska, afrobeat, lovers rock and soca market in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with his Planetone, Sway, Tackle Sunburn and Orbitone record labels.
Born in 1931 in Spice Grove, Manchester Parish, Roberts, who was originally a carpenter, emigrated to London in 1953.Campbell, Howard (2012) " The unheralded trailblazer", Jamaica Observer, 27 June 2012, retrieved 2012-07-01 In 1961, he set up a recording studio in the basement of 108 Cambridge Road (a property owned by Trojan Records founder Lee Gopthal), the first Black recording studio in Britain owned by a Jamaican.Campbell, Howard (2015) " A pioneer gets his due", Jamaica Observer, 1 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015 He established the Planetone label (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 music records. Roberts was also indirectly responsible for the subsequent growth of Island Records in Britain and the birth of its Trojan subsidiary; Sonny being a crucial catalyst. ref name="Campbell" />Smith, Steve Alexander (2009) British Black Gospel: The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound, Monarch Books, , p. 60Donnelly, Mark (2005) Sixties Britain: Culture, Society and Politics, Longman, , p. 47de Koningh, Michael & Cane-Honeysett, Laurence (2003) Young Gifted and Black: The Story of Trojan Records, Sanctuary Publishing, , p. 27 The studio and record label operated until the late 1960s. He also cut acetates, which he supplied to local sound systems.Bradley, Lloyd (2000) This Is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaican Music, Grove Press, , p. 124-5
In 1970, he opened a record shop Orbitone Records in Harlesden, London and started the Orbitone label, which was one of the key lovers rock labels, with releases by artists such as Tim Chandell, Teddy Davis, Martell Robinson, Judy Boucher and Joyce Bond, as well as producing and releasing Afrobeat music. Sonny produced and released the first U.K Afrobeat album in 1972 - Destruction by the Nkengas music. After the successful release of the Nkengas album, Sonny produced and released other African artists such as the Rhythm Brothers, Peter King, Teddy Davis, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley.
Roberts also ran the Lavender sound system in the 1960s.
In 1987, his production of Judy Boucher's "Can't Be with You Tonight" reached number two in the UK Singles Chart." Judy Boucher(Link redirected to OCC website)", Chart Stats, retrieved 2012-07-01 This single holds the record for being the first Caribbean female singer to have the longest stay in the British national charts for 14 weeks. The hit record La Isla Bonnita by “global pop star” Madonna prevented Sonny from charting a No.1 record slot.
He returned to Jamaica in 1997, living in Saint Andrew Parish, where he ran a company producing natural mosquito repellent and natural spices.
Roberts died in Saint Andrew of throat cancer on 17 March 2021, aged 89.Campbell, Howard (2021) " Pioneer producer Sonny Roberts dead at 89", Jamaica Observer, 20 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021
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