Donovan Germain

Donovan Germain

Director

Donovan Germain’s entry into the music industry was via his record shop in New York City in the 1970s. He began production in 1972, visiting Jamaica for recording sessions, working in both roots reggae and lovers rock. As a producer he had hits on the reggae charts with the likes of Cultural Roots’ “Mr. Boss Man” in 1980, and broke through into the UK Singles Chart in the early and mid-1980s with  “One Dance Won’t Do” and “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” . He ran the Revolutionary Sounds label which started in the early 1980s and ran from New York, and also ran the Rub-a-Dub Reggae and Germain labels.

He returned to Kingston in 1987 and opened his Penthouse Studio on Slipe Road (originally located on the top floor — hence the name — now located on 6 Ballater Avenue and including a pressing facility), which soon became highly in-demand, with Germain becoming recognized as one of the very top reggae producers, taking over as Jamaica’s leading producer from King Jammy

In the early days of the studio he worked with such renowned artists as Freddie McGregor, Delroy Wilson, Marcia Griffiths,Tony Rebel,Queen Ifrica  and Tenor Saw, and went on to enjoy great success with Buju Banton ,Mad Cobra, Cutty Ranks, Morgan Heritage, Wayne Wonder, and Beres Hammond.

Germain is now managing artistes such as, Shuga, Exco Levi, RC (Righteous Child), Dalton Harris and D Major who are signed to Penthouse Records. Donovan as also received several awards worldwide for his  work.

He is a member of the Society’s Governance Committee and also the Finance Committee.