C. “Specialist” Dillion

Dillon initially set up his own Specialist sound system and, inspired by the efforts of Coxsone Dodd, resolved to set up his own record label. He found employment at the Music Works studios where he studied record production under the tutelage of Gussie Clarke. Initially Dillon released a few local hits on his Pioneer Muzik label before he relocated to Chicago, USA. He soon established his career when he set up the Solid Gold sound system that subsequently won the Chicago International Reggae Award for Best Discotheque.

Dillon maintained his Jamaican dancehall connection by recruiting artists such as Shabba Ranks, Patra and Mad Cobra to his newly formed Shang enterprise. The partnership proved beneficial to all parties. In his role as the executive producer of Ranks’ X-Tra Naked, Dillon was directly involved in the DJ winning two Grammys and his subsequent international chart success. The market leaders included a remake of ‘Mr Loverman’ and the combination hit with Maxi Priest, ‘Housecall’. Curiously the original ‘Mr Loverman’ had been recorded at Music Works with Clarke, while the remake was a joint production with his old alumni Mikey Bennett.