Leonard Chin
Encyclopedia
Leonard Chin aka Santic, is a Jamaica
n reggae
record producer
. After first working as a car mechanic, he then trained as a photographer and worked for the Gleaner
company. In the early 1970s he began working as a singer with Charles Hannah and The Graduates, and recorded a single for Gussie Clarke
, but he realized that he was better suited to production. His early productions between 1973 and 1975 included recordings by Augustus Pablo
, who recorded the first single for his Santic record label (the name derived from the nickname of his friend, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, and "Atlantic"), "Pablo In Dub", as well as Paul Whiteman, Horace Andy
(with whom he had two hits - "Problems" and "Children of Israel"), Roman Stewart
, and Gregory Isaacs
. Two of the tracks he produced for Pablo were included on the melodica
player's debut album. Chin's recording sessions generally took place at Randy's studio, with Errol Thompson at the mixing desk, and using Pablo as an arranger or keyboard player. Chin also produced Jah Woosh
's 1976 album, Chalice Blaze. A mid-1970s compilation of his productions, An Even Harder Shade of Black, was reissued by Pressure Sounds
in 1995. The label released a further collection of his work, Down Santic Way, in 2005.
In 1975, he relocated to London
, England
, and became a prominent producer in the lovers rock
genre, working with the likes of Carroll Thompson
, Trevor Walters, Donna Rhoden, and Lorna Pierre.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. After first working as a car mechanic, he then trained as a photographer and worked for the Gleaner
Gleaner
Gleaner may refer to:*Gleaner Company, a newspaper publishing enterprise in Jamaica.*Gleaner Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of combine harvesters.*Gleaning, the collection of crops left over after harvest....
company. In the early 1970s he began working as a singer with Charles Hannah and The Graduates, and recorded a single for Gussie Clarke
Gussie Clarke
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke , is a reggae producer who worked with some of the top Jamaican reggae artists in the 1970s and later set up his own Music Works studio.-Career:...
, but he realized that he was better suited to production. His early productions between 1973 and 1975 included recordings by Augustus Pablo
Augustus Pablo
Horace Swaby , known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub record producer, melodica player and keyboardist, active from the 1970s onwards. He popularized the use of the melodica in reggae music...
, who recorded the first single for his Santic record label (the name derived from the nickname of his friend, drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, and "Atlantic"), "Pablo In Dub", as well as Paul Whiteman, Horace Andy
Horace Andy
Horace Andy is a roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as "Government Land", "Angel", "Five Man Army" and a cover version of "Ain't No Sunshine"....
(with whom he had two hits - "Problems" and "Children of Israel"), Roman Stewart
Roman Stewart
Roman Stewart, also known as Romeo Stewart and 'Mr. Special' was a reggae singer. Stewart won the Festival Song Contest in 1975.-Biography:...
, and Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Isaacs
Gregory Anthony Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in the New York Times, described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae". His nicknames include Cool Ruler and Lonely Lover....
. Two of the tracks he produced for Pablo were included on the melodica
Melodica
The melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
player's debut album. Chin's recording sessions generally took place at Randy's studio, with Errol Thompson at the mixing desk, and using Pablo as an arranger or keyboard player. Chin also produced Jah Woosh
Jah Woosh
Neville Beckford , better known as Jah Woosh was a Jamaican reggae deejay and record producer, primarily known for his work in the 1970s.-Biography:...
's 1976 album, Chalice Blaze. A mid-1970s compilation of his productions, An Even Harder Shade of Black, was reissued by Pressure Sounds
Pressure Sounds
Pressure Sounds is a British record label, specializing in releasing reggae music. It is run by Pete Holdsworth although Adrian Sherwood was involved at the inception of the imprint...
in 1995. The label released a further collection of his work, Down Santic Way, in 2005.
In 1975, he relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and became a prominent producer in the lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
genre, working with the likes of Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
, Trevor Walters, Donna Rhoden, and Lorna Pierre.