Sonny Roberts had a major impact on UK music as the founder of Planetone, the first Black owned recording studio and record label in the country, and had a long career as producer, record shop owner, label manager and much more. Cleon Roberts, his daughter, will be in talks with Linett Kamala from Notting Hill Carnival / Lin Kam Art about his remarkable achievement and legacy.
ALT A’s founder Joy managed to exclusively get a quote from Sonny’s daughter Cleon ahead of the event this weekend Cleon spoke on how important it is to have this event at the British Library and on her father’s contribution to contribution to #Afrobeat :
“It is such an honour and a proud moment for my family and I, for my father’s achievements to be exhibited at the British Library. My father Sonny Roberts trailblazing work in the music has woven into the life of mine and most people, inspiring generations to come and carved a path for artistes and musicians. I am elated to be invited by Linett Kamala to speak at her event – celebrating the trailblazers and pioneers of U.K Black music at the British Library.
I will also be highlighting my father’s production work in the African music industry. Sonny Roberts produced and recorded Afrobeat music in 1971 with the Nigerian band – Nkengas. Quite an accomplishment at the time for a Jamaican to produce Afrobeat music in the 1970’s. He went onto producing a series of albums with Nkengas due to the success of these albums, he was approached by quite a few Nigerian and Ghanian artistes to produce and license Afrobeat music in the 1970’s and 1980’s.!“
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Sonny Roberts is one of a handful of esteemed pioneers that helped #Jamaican music become established in Britain. The recording studio he opened in 1961 in the basement of 108 Cambridge Road in Kilburn, London was visited by many West Indian musicians including iconic ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez MBE, who went on to record with the Specials and Toots and the Maytals, chart-topping soul singer Jackie Edwards, Millie Small of ska-smash ‘My Boy Lollipop’ fame, and rocksteady group the Marvels.
In 1963 Roberts enabled his friend Chris Blackwell to move into same the building to establish his fledgling Island Records operation and begin its hugely influential journey, including its Trojan Records label. Sonny later opened the Orbitone record shop on the same spot. He carried on producing, including the UK chart No.2 ‘Can’t Be With You Tonight’ by Judy Boucher in 1987 and licencing classic hits, such as ‘Hot Hot Hot’ by Arrow.
This talk is part of a day of events in The British Library on Sunday 2 June. Ticket holders for A Tribute to Sonny Roberts can stay on at no extra cost for The Pioneers: Trailblazers of British Reggae (3 – 4.15pm) a panel with Daddy Ernie, Lady V (V Rocket International), Mad Professor and Carroll Thompson and hosted by Seani B (BBC Radio 1Xtra), and 0121 – Birmingham’s Black Music Legacy (4.30 – 5.30pm).
Outside on the Piazza, Lin Kam Art hosts a free afternoon celebrating sound system culture with BASS TONE REGENERATION, Original Sounds Collective, LIGWA sound system, talks, workshops and much more.
The new exhibition Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music (26 April – 26 August) will also be open on the day. Ticket purchase required.
Event presented by Lin Kam Art, for The British Library as part of the Beyond the Bassline exhibition season.
Cleon Roberts was born in London of Jamaican descent. The daughter of music trailblazer Sonny Roberts she has long experience in the music and design industry and since 2022 has been working to publicly profile her father’s music history through talks, TV and radio interviews and major exhibitions in the UK. Cleon also runs a family business in Jamaica, Sunburst Products, which manufactures natural mosquito repellent and natural seasoning which retails island wide.
Linett Kamala is a DJ, interdisciplinary artist, cultural expert, academic, creative producer and founding Director of Lin Kam Art. She works across various disciplines including installations, paintings, street art, DJ soundscapes and performance. Linett is known as the Notting Hill Carnival ‘Sound System Queen’, being credited as one of the first female DJs to perform on a sound system at the event in the mid 1980s. Today she continues to champion inclusion within sound system culture, advocating for underrepresented groups, including through her initiatives; Lin Kam Art Sound System Futures Programme developing the next generation, and Original Sounds Collective (supported by Guinness GB) amplifying the presence of women. Her ongoing project BASS TONE REGENERATION celebrates the innovation and community aspect of Jamaican sound system culture.
Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music is a partnership with the Black Music Research Unit, part of the University of Westminster’s Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media Explore the full exhibition events programme here.
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