Sonia Pottinger

Sonia Eloise Pottinger OD (née Durrant; 21 June 1931 – 3 November 2010) was a Jamaican reggae record producer. An icon in the music business, Sonia Pottinger was the first female Jamaican record producer and produced artists from the mid-1960s until the mid-1980s.

Biography

Sonia Durrant was born in Leith Hall, Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica. She moved to Kingston as a child, and attended St George's girls school. She trained as a secretary and followed an accountancy course before marrying accountant Lindon O. Pottinger. The couple set up several businesses in Kingston, including a bicycle shop and a bakery. In 1961 Lindon Pottinger opened a small recording studio – the first in Jamaica to be owned by a black person – to produce recordings by local acts. He set up several record labels including Gaydisc and SEP (Sonia's initials), and recorded acts including the Maytals, Derrick Harriott, Lord Tanamo, and teenager Millie Small.

In 1964, Lindon Pottinger sold his recording equipment to Duke Reid and shortly afterwards the Pottingers separated. Sonia decided to continue producing records. She opened her Tip Top Records Shop in 1965 and started to record musicians in 1966...

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