Gege Vibes Camp / Featured Artist
Dawn Penn
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Biography
Dawn’s first recording was in 1966, on which she played the piano whilst singing her original song called “When I’m Gonna Be Free” for Derek Morgan. Dawn also had releases on Prince Buster’s label “Long Day Short Night and “Are You There”. This quickly brought her to the attention of Clement “Sir Coxson” Dodd, owner & producer at Studio One (record label and sound system) and her debut single was recorded a year later for him while she was still in high school.
Studio One at that time was at the forefront of Reggae Music in Jamaica and all of the top artists were at Studio One, therefore Dawn had the privilege of working alongside renown artists such as Toots & the Maytals, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Lee ’Scratch’ Perry and Jimmy Cliff to name but a few. The single “You don’t love me” was backed by Tommy McCook and the Skatalites with Jackie Mittoo on keyboards.
In 1970, Dawn left Jamaica for Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. She moved back to Jamaica in 1987 and in the summer of 1992, she was invited to appear on stage at a Studio One 35th anniversary show, where she performed the song “You Don’t Love Me” with Steely & Clevie as backing musicians. This was so well received that she re-recorded her debut single for King Jammy’s in 1992 and for Steelie and Cleavie’s album in 1993. The Jammy’s No, No, No “World A Respect” version featured Bounty Killa akas Rodney Price, Dennis Brown and Ken Booth. The Jammy’s recording proved a dancehall smash on Greensleeves. Steelie and Cleavie’s version crossed over into the mainstream Pop Charts. It was released as the single ‘You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)’ from Her album of the same title, on Atlantic Records over a year later, reaching the charts in the U.S. and Europe, plus hitting No.1 in her native Jamaica, and making No.3 in the UK Singles Chart.
