Although her name is not the best known among reggae's players, she is nonetheless behind some of the finest successes of Jamaican music: Sonia Pottinger, a shrewd producer, died on 3 November 2010. She was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Almost an exception in an industry dominated by men, Sonia Pottinger, wife of the producer Lyndon Pottinger, began producing artists in 1966. She earned her first stripes with the singer Joe White and his hit Every Night. Next came The Ethiopians, The Gaylads (Hard to Confess), The Melodians (Swing and Dine), and the Silverstones' Guns Fever, all released on her labels Gay Feet, Tip Top and High Note. She also produced Errol Dunkley's first album, Presenting Errol Dunkley.
In 1974, she bought the catalogue of Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label, shortly before his death, which opened a legal battle with Coxsone, Reid's son, and Bunny Lee, who were disputing the rights to the recordings. A court ruling in 2009 would find in Sonia Pottinger's favour.
Her best-known recordings are probably those of Culture, whose albums Harder than the rest, Cumbolo and International Herb she produced, but also those for Bob Andy, Marcia Griffiths, Slim Smith, Alton Ellis, Joseph Cotton, U-Roy and Big Youth. As dancehall was emerging, she left the business in 1985.