ORBITONE RECORDS
Sonny opened Orbitone Records located in the Harlesden area of London. The store became a hub for the city’s diverse population who wanted the latest Reggae, Afrobeat, Gospel and Calypso and Soca music.
An early advertising poster
Sonny Roberts pictured outside his record shop Orbitone Records 2 Station Road, Harlesden, London NW10.
Sonny Roberts pictured inside his record shop Orbitone Records, 2 Station Road, Harlesden, London NW10.
In 1987, Sonny moved business premises to his 2nd record shop at:-
78 Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London NW10
Sonny pictured with his wife Monica Roberts
Sonny Roberts daughter - Cleon Roberts pictured at Orbitone Records in 1989. Cleon has worked the family business from her early childhood years to date.
SOCA MUSIC
Sonny Roberts produced the first U.K Soca album in 1975 for the Dominican singer Roy Alton. This album is regarded as iconic by soca enthusiast.
Roy Alton - Carnival In Ladbroke Grove
The first U.K Soca artist - Roy Alton born in Dominica W.I
Sonny recorded Roy Alton’s first Soca album in 1975, of which brought the attention of Rawlston Charles; owner of Charlie’s Records in Brooklyn, New York U.S.A
Charlie and Sonny ventured into business in the late 70’s by licensing and distributing Soca music in the U.K. Charlie gave Sonny the rights to distribute and license popular Soca hits on the Sun Burst label, such as:–
Sugar Bum Bum - Lord Kitchener
Gimme De Ting - Lord Kitchener
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Lorraine – Explainer
Hot Hot Hot – Arrow
Too Young To Soca – Machel Montano
Gi Mi More – Chevi
Rawlson Charles owner of the record label Charlie’s Records and Charlie’s Calypso City in New York, U.S.A.
In the mid 1970’s, Sonny heavily promoted soca music, which eventually became popular in the U.K and Jamaica by licensing and distributing records from Charlie’s on his own label called Sun Burst. Sonny also produced his own soca records which were also on the Sun Burn label, some became soca hit records in the U.K
In 19194 Hot Hot Hot by Arrow successfully peaked the UK Britsh Single Charts at number 38
(2nd release on Chrysalis Records)
Sonny pictured in 1989 with artist Arrow who sang the soca hit record Hot Hot Hot
A selection of Soca records
licensed and produced by Sonny Roberts
Hot Hot Hot – Arrow (1st release in 1982)
Sugar Bum Bum – Lord Kitchener
Gipsy Love – Belinda Parker
Gimme Di Ting – Lord Kitchener
Lorraine – Explainer
Tell Them – Roy Alton
Darling Cool It – Asterisk
If You Want Me – Roy Alton
Leggo Leggo – Roy Alton
My Mistake – Roy Alton
Soca Up The Party – The Might Swallow
The Storm - Shadow
Born Jamaican – The Astronaughts
Gi Mi More – Chevi
Kuchi Gadbad Hai – Kanchan
Pretty Island – The Astronaughts
Rosalie – Chevi
Soca Train - Spiking
In the 1980’s Sonny promoted soca music in Jamaica, which eventually became popular in the U.K and Jamaica by distributing records on the Thunder Bolt label. Sonny distributed the album Born Jamaican by The Astronaughts, and a few other singles; they were signed to Neville Lee of Sonic Sounds. Sonny also produced his own soca records on the Sun Burn label, some of these records became soca hits in the U.K
We would like to thanks the late Cecil Wilson of RJR Radio Station, who played an integral part in promoting soca music in Jamaica. Cecil and Sonny persuaded Jamaican radio DJ’s to play soca music on the airwaves, especially the late Neville Willoughby. Back then, even though the likes of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires were recording and playing calypso, it was the upbeat rhythm of soca that inspired them to produce the soca hit record Tiney Winey.
Some popular Soca hits that were licensed and distributed in the U.K by Sonny Roberts