Pat Rhoden

b. Winston Patrick Rhoden, c.1950, Jamaica, West Indies. In 1963 Rhoden left Jamaica to take up residence in the UK. Four years later he recorded his first record, ‘Jezebel’, for Rita King’s R&B label. While with R&B Records he recorded soul ballads and duets with a rising starlet, under the name of Pat And Maureen. Rhoden began working with Dandy Livingstone, who had also recorded for Rita King, and signed with Trojan Records. In 1969 Rhoden successfully signed with Philips Records, who released ‘Let The Red Wine Flow’ and ‘I Need Help’, credited to Pat And Brother Lloyd’s All Stars. The major label contract was short-lived and Rhoden resurfaced in 1970 with his biggest-selling hit, ‘Maybe The Next Time’, and ‘Do What You Wanna Do’ for Pama Records. Three years later he was back with Trojan, where his hit ‘I’ve Got A Nose For Trouble’ recalled his experiences within the music industry. Other releases with the label included versions of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Boogie On Reggae Woman’ and ‘Living For The City’. By 1975 Rhoden had become involved in the Jama group, an independent partnership alongside Tito Simon and B.B. Seaton. Two releases by Rhoden, ‘Sweet Sunshine’ and ‘Happiness’, maintained his chart profile. He ventured into production work with the Meditations, who recorded ‘Sympathy’ and ‘Johnny’, while also promoting other productions for the label. Notable releases for Jama include Junior Byles’ ‘Fade Away’ and I. Roy’s ‘Welding’, which were licensed to a major label but failed to cross over into the mainstream. The label survived into the 80s with the re-releases of Rhoden’s ‘Stop’ and ‘Sweet Sunshine’, which were minor hits. ‘Stop’ had previously topped the reggae chart in 1976, although it was originally the b-side to ‘Let’s Move A Mountain’.