Dawn Penn Profile

Dawn Penn "The Queen Of Reggae Music"

Music is synonymous with singers and players and instrument. From that vine comes an artist of tremendous quality and class. Born in Jamaica Dawn Penn started her relationship with music by studying classical piano from the age of 5 and later the violin.along with her sisters Pat and Audrey by Major Wilson of Salvation Army-Bramwell Booth Memorial Hall- 19 North Parade, Kingston. She won a music scholarship after entering the Independence Celebration Music Competition at Jamaica’s Independence Festival there playing a classical piano duet in which she came first in the Classical Section and won second prize in the Pop Category. Her original song was “Make Up Your Mind” which she accompanied herself on the organ. She also studied at the Jamaica School of Music under the tutelege of Miss Scott. Her talents as a youth extended to singing in the Y Choral Group as mezzo-soprano while she displayed performing arts versatility as a actress in two of Jamaica’s classic LTM National Pantomine Productions, “Anancy and Pandora” and “Anancy and Doumbey” with Hon. Louise Bennett- Coverley Ranny Williams, Mrs Lois Kelly-Barrow-Miller, Tony Patel, Audley Coulton and Marjorie Whylie to name a few. She began recording for Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label. It was no surprise that Penn’s recording debut “You don’t love me, No,No,No, became a mega hit in Jamaica amongst others. Penn began recording for Prince Buster original track called ”Blue Yes Blue” and covers “Are You There With Another Girl” and “Long Day Short Night”. She also did “Why did you lie” for Duke Reid also original tracks called “Here’s the key”,“When am I gonna be free” and also made reggae version of Lulu’s song “To Sir With Love” as well as “Don’t Sleep In The Subway Darling” as Suzette for West Indies Records Limited (WIRL). Added to these were “Ist Cut Is The Deepest”,“Let Me Go Boy”and “I’ll Get You” for Bunny Lee. She did backing vocals for internationally acclaimed Johnny Nash on tracks “I can see clearly now”, “Cupid” and “Stir it up” and she did a duet with Johnny Nash on“ Guava Jelly” Also there was “Milk shake and potato chips”, “You’ve got Soul” .She is included in the Commerative Bob Marley Rebel Box set. Penn also backed tracks on Eddie Lovette’s “Too experienced album with her sister Pat Penn and Winsome Dixon. Now an established name on the reggae/rocksteady era Dawn Penn gave the reggae world a pleasant surprise when she returned to the charts in1994 with a dancehall influenced remake of her signature song, “You don’t love me, no,no,no”, produced by Steelie and Cleavie Productions for Heartbeat Records. In 1994 also saw Penn release her critically acclaimed debut album “No,No,No album on Big/Beat Atlantic Records garnering a Grammy nomination. Now an international household name Penn entered the British Charts at Number 9 and was performing in the UK-Top of the Pops, BET with Rachel, opening “The Box” in Houston for Lez of Rap City, appearing on MTV’s “Most Wanted” to name a few. Penn’s powerful signature song “You don’t love me has topped the charts worldwide from UK to Japan, Europe, US and Canada and has been included on more than forty music compilations. It has been included as soundtrack for several television commercials eg; Nissan advertisement, films such as “Undercover Cop”,” Party Girl”,1990’s US series “Homicide” and “I Spy” with Eddie Murphy. This track continues to inspire with covers and renditions continually been done by contemporary artists. Eve included this track on her Scorpion album also J. Mills and Wo-Tang Clan. In 2005 Def Jam’s artist Rihanna featuring Vybz Kartel did a version of the song. In 1996 Penn co-produced her popular album “ComeAgain” for Trojan Records-selling more than 108,000 copies. 2000-the single “Never ever” done for Top Secret released on Jet Star label was a smash on BBC 1 and 2 playlists Echo’s chart. In 2001 re-release of “Let me go boy” in the US and she did a cameo appearance in the movie “Fire” with Paul Campbell and the Sopranos alongside her daughter Abioseh. Continued success saw Dawn Penn honoured in New York with Martin Luther King Award in 2001 for her contribution to music by Caribbean Images. 2002 saw Penn recording track “Now” for Subway-compiliation by Glen Adams of Landmark Studios in Brooklyn. She also did a track with Cocoa Brovaz on Universal/ Rawkus label that was very successful called “Spit Again”. She also did a project with New York based John Shop Records – the album “Never Hussle The Music” tracks like“Forgive and Forget”(akas) 7 Times Rise 7 Times Fall, with Dee, “Bobby Wrong”, Co-wrote “What U Gonna Do” with Estereo and John Forte, “ Mercy pon we” duet with John Forte and “ Looking for a Lion” all with John Forte at the production helm. 2003 she did her original track called “Runaway for Functionist of Austria, “We come yah fi teach” for Kingstone label and “You have a right for POT both in Germany. “Old Johnny” for Professor “P” of Manchester. “Rock this World”, for Mark Rae and Rhys Adams of Yes King label in UK. 2005 she did Hawaii with Alpha Blondy in Maui, Honolulu and Ohau. Penn pre-released a double sided single called “Growing Up” and “Begone” on Da-Beat label. There is also the release of re-mix “Love the one you’re with” Chris Cocoa on Trojan/Sanctuary label. There is also the release of “Night and Day” as soundtrack of the movie “After the Sunset” with Pierce Brosnon and Don Cheadle and release of the track “No,No,No,/ I’ve Got Somebody Else. Dawn Penn/Changing Faces on Atlantic. 2006 She did UPPSALA festival in Sweden, Dour Festival in Brussels, festivals in Prague, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Warwickshire, Liverpool, Barcelona with Half Pint and Kilimanjaro Sound System also Valencia, Lemitzia and Rome. She did original track “Betterment Blues” with Sean of Pama International. 2007 She did the Bob Marley Anniversary in Hawaii, Oahi, Big Island-Honolulu with Capleton, Lauren Hill and many more.

Selected Discography:

Albums:

No No No - 1994

Soundbombing Vol. 3 - 2001

Come Again - 2002

For more informations check out the official Dawn Penn Webpage.

Respect to Dawn Penn!