Sonny Nelson (2)

Born Kingston, Jamaica 1942 Singer w/ The Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster & Yellowman Born Cleveland "Sonny" Nelson in Kingston, Jamaica in 1942, the singer now known as Winston Brown spent his youth with reggae royalty (Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker, Prince Buster), came of age at the epicenter of reggae, singing on hit singles for its important labels (Island, Beverley's, Treasure Isle) at Federal Studio, with early ska/reggae producers such as Leslie Kong, Chris Blackwell & Duke Reid. Sonny Nelson began singing at an early age while attending Boystown School with Delroy Wilson and other future stars. In 1960 his duo The Heartbreakers appeared on the weekly talent show Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, taking winning honors 4 weeks in a row before losing out to the man destined to become reggae's biggest ambassador, Bob Marley. With the help of Chris Blackwell and Beverley's Records producer Leslie Kong, he moved on quickly, formed The Cherry Pies & recorded the eponymous 1964 hit "Cherry Pie", backed by The Skatalites, "Hill and Gully Ride" produced by Duke Reid, and then the hits "Show Me the Way To Go Home" and "Dip them Prince" with Prince Buster. The Cherry Pies were next paired up by Chris Blackwell with the then-raw talent of Desmond Dekker, with whom they created the ska sound that Desmond became known for, on the track "King of Ska." Although released as Desmond Dekker & His Cherry Pies, "King of Ska" actually featured Winston Brown singing the lead part.