Sonia Pottinger, married to music producer Lyndon Pottinger, she opened her Tip Top Records Shop in 1965 and started to record musicians in 1966. The first single she issued was "Every Night" by Joe White & Chuck. Other artists recorded during this period include Roland Alphonso.

Throughout the rock steady and early reggae eras, she became very prolific with hits by The Ethiopians ("The Whip"), Delano Stewart, The Melodians ("Swing And Dine"), Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis and Toots & the Maytals, released on her Gay Feet, Tip Top, Rainbow, and High Note labels. In the early 1970s her work was less prolific, but in 1974 she bought the Treasure Isle label from long time friend Duke Reid shortly before his death.

Put On Your Best Dress - Sonia Pottinger's Rocksteady (1967-68)

In the 1970s, she produced albums by Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths, Culture, U Roy and Big Youth. Her most well known production is Culture's Harder Than The Rest album, released in 1978.

Musica Feast - Mrs. Pottinger´s High Note & Gay Feet Label

In the dancehall era show produced Archie & Lynn's "Rat in the Centre". She retired from the music business in 1985.

Sonia Pottinger, who blazed a trail as reggae's most successful female music producer, died Wednesday evening at her St Andrew home. She was 79 years old.

David Plummer, the youngest of Pottinger's four children, told The Gleaner that his mother had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in recent years. He did not say if it caused her death.

Pottinger had considerable success in the late 1960s with her Tip Top, High Note and Gay Feet labels. She produced Errol Dunkley's debut album,

Presenting Errol Dunkley, and hit songs by vocal groups like The Melodians (Swing and Dine), The Gaylads (Hard to Confess) and Guns Fever by The Silvertones.

In 1974, Pottinger bought the Treasure Isle catalogue and operations of pioneer producer Arthur 'Duke' Reid. She had even more success in the era of roots-reggae, producing chart-toppers by Marcia Griffiths (Hurting Inside and Stepping Out of Babylon) and Culture (Natty Never Get Weary).

Errol Brown, Reid's nephew, was engineer for many of Pottinger's productions in the 1970s. He said she was no pushover in the studio.

Respect

"She loved the music ... loved it too much," Brown said. "She knew what she wanted in the studio, and had a lot of respect for the musicians."

Musicologist and sound-system operator, Winston 'Merritone' Blake, said Pottinger was a sharp businesswoman in a male-dominated field.

"She did her thing differently. She was always very dignified," Blake said.

Pottinger is the latest death in local music. Singers Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott and Gregory Isaacs, two giants of lovers rock reggae, died in July and October, respectively.

Sonia Pottinger is survived by three of her children: Sharon, Ronette and David as well as 11 grandchildren.

'She knew what she wanted in the studio, and had a lot of respect for the musicians.'