Biography

b. Dawn Pickering, c.1952, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Penn studied classical piano and violin from the age of five. Her tuition led to her entering and winning a musical scholarship at the Jamaica Independent Festival for the classical section and also a second prize in the pop category. While still at school she began recording with Coxsone Dodd at Studio One in Brentford Road. Her initial hit, "You Don't Love Me", backed with "Portabello Road" by the Soul Vendors, proved a popular hit, although not particularly lucrative. Other recording work included "Don't Sleep In The Subway" and "To Sir With Love", along with "Long Day Short Night" and "Blue Yes Blue" with Prince Buster. When Johnny Nash recorded "I Can See Clearly Now" and "Guava Jelly" in Jamaica, Penn provided the backing vocals. By 1970 she had left Jamaica for Tortola in the Virgin Islands, where she raised her children and pursued an administrative career within a bank and airline company. She moved back to Jamaica in 1987 and four years later returned to the recording studio, although she was initially unwilling to sing over dancehall rhythms. She re-recorded her debut single for Steely And Clevie as well as for King Jammy. The Jammy-produced version, "No, No, No (World A Respect)" featured her solo vocal cut as well as the more popular dancehall version employing the vocal skills of Dennis Brown, Ken Boothe and Beenie Man. While King Jammy's recording proved a dancehall smash, the Steely And Clevie version crossed over into mainstream pop charts. The single entered the UK Top 10 in June 1994 and stayed there for 12 weeks, peaking at number 3. The UK chart version was initially recorded for Steely & Clevie Play Vintage Studio One and Penn's discerning manager secured the rights for a single release. She followed the hit with an interpretation of Jacob Miller's "Baby I Love You So", as "Night And Day", which featured special mixes by Augustus Pablo. However, her follow-up failed to generate a similar level of enthusiasm and left her as a one-hit-wonder. In spite of this, she continued to tour and record, and enjoyed several local hits, notably her rendition of "What Do You Do" in 1995. In 1996, Penn teamed up with UK-based producer and performer Leon Delroy Williams, who produced her second album and joined her in a European tour alongside George Dekker (ex-Pioneers).
DISCOGRAPHY: No No No (Big Beat 1994)***, Come Again (Trojan 1996)***.

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