Planetone
| Planetone | |
|---|---|
Sonny Roberts plaque | |
| Founder | Sonny Roberts |
| Genre | Ska |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Location | Kilburn, London |
Planetone Studios was a London-based recording studio and independent record label that issued ska recordings in the early 1960s.[1] It has been credited as the first black owned record label in England, and a catalyst for the later British labels Trojan and Island Records.[2]
History
The label's founder was Sonny Roberts (1932-2021). The basement studio, which operated from 1961 until 1965, was located at a now demolished site at 108 Cambridge Road, Kilburn, London.[3] Some of the early recordings were by Rico's Combo,[4] a group led by Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez. Mike Elliott (future saxophonist for The Foundations), Jackie Foster,[5][6] Tito ‘Sugar’ Simone and Jamaican singer Dandy Livingstone[7] also released some recordings on the label.[8] Other associated musicians included Jackie Edwards, Millie Small and The Marvels (band).[9]
Chris Blackwell's Island Records took over the space in 1965 when Roberts returned to his original profession, carpentry.[10]
Orbitone
In 1970, Roberts opened the Orbitone record shop in Harlesden, stocking reggae, ska, calypso, Afrobeat, merengue and jazz.[9] He also continued producing in rented studios: the album Destruction by Nigerian band Nkengas was produced by Roberts in 1973, an early example of UK Afrobeat.[11] He licensed Arrow’s 1984 calypso hit Hot Hot Hot. And his production of Judy Boucher's Can't Be with You Tonight reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in 1987.[12] Other musicians supported by Orbitone included Machel Montano, the soul singer Reuben Richards and the guitarist Ciyo Brown.[9]
Roberts moved back to Jamaica in 1997.[9] He died in 2021, survived by his wife Monica and daughters Cleon, Jackie and Andrett. A plaque was unveiled at the site of the Kilburn studio in 2017.[10]
References
- ^ "A Complete List Of Uk Labels? - Soul Of Jamaica". Soul Source. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ 'Sonny Roberts honoured with blue plaque in London', BBC London report (2017), YouTube
- ^ "Biography – Orbitonerecords".
- ^ "Search For Planetone". Reggaevinylcollector.free.fr. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Planetone 7"S". Xs4all.nl. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "DubVendor - Owns". 45cat.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Dandy* - Vipers / Oh Lawdy (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ "Dandy Livingstone's Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d Charis McGowan. ‘I felt his vibration!’ Sonny Roberts, the UK’s first Black music studio owner. The Guardian, 26 July, 2023
- ^ a b 'Jamaican trailblazer Sonny Roberts ‘started it all’, says Chris Blackwell', The Gleaner, 2 August, 2023
- ^ Destruction, Orbitone Records OT 005
- ^ BBC Witness History, 22 October 2025