Philip Ernest Pottinger (born 29 April 1967), known professionally as Phillip Leo, is a British reggae singer, songwriter and producer. He is the last of five children from South London who were born to Jamaican parents.
Biography Born in Greenwich, he played in the Sir Roger Manwood's School's steel band, and learned drums and keyboard. In February 1988 Phillip Leo signed with UK label Fashion Records as a singer/songwriter. By September of that year he had reached No. 6 in the UK Reggae Charts with his first single, "Rocking the Night Away"/"Food of Love".
Leo went on to establish himself as songwriter/producer, with a string of reggae hits by other Fashion acts, including the no. 1 hit single "Two Timing Lover" by Janet Lee Davis,Larkin, Colin (2006) "Janet Lee Davis" in The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, OUP USA, , K-M, p. 143 "Crazy Feeling" by Peter Spence, "Lets Show the World" by Nerious Joseph, and producing the lovers duo Zuruchi's first single "Celebrate Our Love", winning Reggae Songwriter of the Year two consecutive years in row in 1989 and 1990. Leo also did sessions on drum programming, keyboards and backing vocals on a string of recordings by artists like Barry Boom, Nerious Joseph, and Cutty Ranks, and also producing two songs for the Sandra Cross album Foundation Of Love.
As an artist in his own right, Leo reached no. 2 with "I Wanna be Loved by You". He then produced the hit singles "Why do Fools Fall in Love", "Good Thing Going",Larkin, Colin (2000) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music, Virgin Books, , p. 232 and "Young, Gifted & Black", which were duets with DJ CJ Lewis. His debut album in January 1990, entitled Lover of Music, which included nine of his own original compositions, reached no. 3 in the Reggae Album Chart and featured top ten reggae singles "I'm Missing You", "We Belong Together" (duet with Marie Dawn) and debut single "Rocking The Night Away".
Leo began a writing partnership with bassist/songwriter Steve Bingham and together they wrote over 170 songs. This led to them forming the Breakin’ Loose record label. The first single entitled "Hypnotic Love", which included four entirely different mixes of the song featuring DJ CJ Lewis,"Phillip Leo feat. C.J. Lewis: Breakin' Loose BLPTO 14 Hypnotic Love (mixes)", Blues & Soul, Issue 595, 1991, p. 11 and spent seven weeks at no. 1 in the UK Reggae Charts in 1993. "Hypnotic Love" remained in the chart for six months. This was followed by the single "Today", which had the same format of four mixes and was also the title track of his second album."Phillip Leo Today", The Beat, vol. 12, p. 15 "Today" reached no. 5 in the UK Reggae Chart and showcased the different genres Leo had expanded into, side A featured songs in the Soul/R & B genre while side B stayed within the reggae/lovers rock genres which Leo was known for.
After a string of releases, Leo was approached by EMI Records. He then signed as a recording artist. This led to two top 75 UK Singles Chart positions with "Second Chance" (no. 57) and "Thinking About Your Love" (no. 64) which featured the DJ Top Cat on the street versions."Phillip Leo", Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2017 Whilst he was with EMI Records, Leo produced CJ Lewis’ album, Dollars, recorded for MCA Records, from which he had a no. 3 with "Sweets for My Sweet", and another two consecutive releases which reached the UK top twenty in the UK Singles Chart."C J Lewis", Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2017 The album went on to sell over 500,000 copies worldwide. Lewis's second album, Rough & Smooth, again produced by Leo, went platinum in Japan, and had a no.1 single taken from it called "R to the A" in France and sold over 1,000,000 copies worldwide. Leo then got his own record company Sharma Productions back on the road. His next release his third album entitled Just 4 U. The first single from the album, "Angel Heart"/"I Wanna be the One", sparked a lot of interest especially in Japan. This led to being asked to appear alongside other British and Jamaican reggae acts on Japansplash, a yearly event which takes place in different towns across Japan over the course of six weeks.
In 1997, a limited release of Phillip Leo's fifth album Down 2 Earth was circulated, from which the top ten reggae single "Summer Girl" featuring Glamma Kid was taken. Leo also embarked on more music production and remixing for other artists including Louchie Lou & Michie One, Carroll Thompson, Jack Radics, Japanese DJ Nahki, Judy Cheeks, Sean Mcguire, Musical Youth, Charlene Smith, Awesome, and Rick Clarke.
In May 2017, Leo's seventh album, Faithfully was released; the first single off the album was "Feel So Good" and the second was "Your Life". Space Dub 2 is a follow-up to Space Dub originally released in 1996. Just 4 U, Down 2 Earth and Space Dub have been reissued and remastered for digital download.
Discography Albums YearAlbumRecord label1989Lover of MusicFinestyle1991TodayBreakin' Loose1996Just 4 U Sharma Productions1996Space Dub1997Love vs. Pain (Germany)G.I.B. Music1997Down 2 EarthSharma Productions2017Faithfully Big Lion Productions2017Space Dub 22017Just 4 U (digitally remastered)2017Down 2 Earth (digitally remastered)2017Space Dub (digitally remastered)2018The Universe2018Space Dub 32019New Horizon2020Rolling River2021The Best of Phillip Leo
Singles and EPs
YearSingleRecord label1989"Rocking the Night Away" / "Food of Love"Finestyle1989"I Wanna Be Loved By You"1989"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (with C.J. Lewis)Fashion Records1989"Good Thing Going" / "Stop Fooling Around" (with C.J. Lewis)1989"I'm Missing You" / "Come On and Dance"Finestyle1989"Run You Could a Run"Fashion Records1990"One Night" / "We Belong Together" (with Marie Dawn)Finestyle1990"One Life to Live"Gussie P Records1991"Girl of My Dreams" / "One Life to Live"Finestyle1990"Young Gifted & Black" (with C.J. Lewis)Fashion Records1991"Mission Impossible" (with C.J. Lewis and Nerious Joseph)1991"Hypnotic Love" (4 mixes)Breakin' Loose1992"Today" (4 mixes)1992"All Our Fathers Children" (featuring General Levy)Fashion Records1992"Let Your Love Run Wild" (featuring C.J. Lewis)Breakin' Loose1993"The Vibe Is Right" / "Remote Control"Sharma Productions1993"So Alive" (with C.J. Lewis)1994"Second Chance"EMI Records1995"Thinking About Your Love" (mixes featuring Top Cat)1996"Angel Heart" / "I Wanna Be the One"Sharma Productions1996"Let Me Hold You" / "I Thank You"1996"No Temporary Love"Pacific Sound Records1997"Summer Girl" (featuring Glamma Kid)Sharma Productions1998"Sexafect"2017Your Life (EP)Big Lion Productions2023Happy New Year (Auld Lang Syne) with Paul Phillips20232 Sides of the Story (EP)
Remix releases YearReleaseRecord label2017Feel So Good (Remixes) Big Lion Productions2017On My Own (The Remixes)2017The Creators Children (The Remixes)2017I Believe in Your Love (The Remixes)2017Mellow Soul Moods (The Soul Remixes)2017Dancehall Moods (The Dancehall Remixes)2017Dance Moods (The Dance Remixes)2018The Gift (Remixes)2018Hold On (Remixes)2018Love Your Life (Remixes)2018Don't Judge Me (Remixes)2018Escape (Remixes)2018A Heart That's Pure (Remixes)2018Dancehall Moods Volume 2 (The Dancehall Remixes)2018Dance Moods Volume 2 (The Dance Remixes)2018Mellow Soul Moods Volume 2 (The Soul Remixes)2019Together We'll Abide (Remixes)2019Times Will Change (Remixes)2019The Border (Remixes)2019The Future (Remixes)2019Peaceful Party (Remixes)2019Violation (Remixes)2020Let Love Be Your Guide (Remixes)2020Love Grows (Remixes)2020Never Lose That Feeling (Remixes)2020The Sun Will Shine (Remixes)2020Heavens Beauty (Remixes)2020A Losing Game (Remixes)2020Dancehall Moods Volume 3 (The Dancehall Remixes)2020Dance Moods Volume 3 (The Dance Remixes)2020Mellow Soul Moods Volume 3 (The Soul Remixes)
References
External links Phillip Leo at discogs.com Big Lion Productions