Sonny Roberts, Jamaican producer who opened Britain’s first Black-owned recording studio, to be honoured with blue plaque
The Kilburn Cambridge Road location developed a reputation as a hub for British and Jamaican talent to break into the music industry in the 1960s
Sonny Roberts, the late Jamaican producer who opened the UK's first Black-owned recording studio will be honoured with a blue plaque in London.
The sign, which marks places of historical significance in British heritage, will be unveiled at Planetone Record's Kilburn home of 108 Cambridge Road on Wednesday, 26th July. The ceremony will be followed by a reception at Notting Hill performing arts venue and historic site The Tabernacle with music by Little Big Sound System.
Roberts opened Planetone recording studio in 1961, three years after first moving to London from Jamaica. In order to fund what would be Britain's first Black-owned recording studio, Roberts launched Lavender Sound System and made a name playing parties and weddings. The Cambridge Road building that housed Planetone was owned by Lee Gopthal, who would later found Trojan Records, and also served as home to Chris Blackwell's Island Records from 1962.
The location developed a reputation as a hub for British and Jamaican talent to break into the music industry. During Planetone's short run during the '60s, the ska, reggae and gospel label released records by Mike Elliott, George Bailey, Rico's Combo, Jackie Foster, Zephies Group and more.
Roberts returned to his carpentry career after closing Planetone, but opened a new record shop and lovers rock label in Harlesden called Orbitone in the mix-1970s. He went on to produce hit tracks for the likes of UB40, Judy Boucher, Nkengas’, Joyce Bond, Tim Chandell and more. He passed away from Cancer in March 2021 at Saint Andrew Parish in Jamaica.
See more information about the blue plaque unveiling ceremony and reception in London via Facebook.
Earlier this year, Claudia Jones, a Trinidadian civil rights activist who organised London's first Caribbean carnival at St Pancras Town Hall in 1959, was commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque. In 2022, a plaque was raised at the original Shepherd's Bush site of pioneering Black British record label and store Peckings Records. The year before, one was placed at the previous site of legendary London record shop De Underground.
A group also recently spray painted a number of unofficial blue plaque-style pieces on walls around London commemorating the late, great Andrew Weatherall.