During the 1990s, Hopeton Lindo spent a lot of time at producer Gussie Clarke’s Anchor recording studio in Kingston. He was part of a production team that created some of that decade’s biggest hit songs.
Lindo learned a lot from his days there, which served him well when he went into production with his Irie Pen Records label. He has enjoyed a strong run in the last four years, which continues with ‘Don’t Know Much’, his song with fellow singer Novel-T.
It is a lover’s rock take on the oft-covered ballad, made famous by artists such as Bette Midler, Bill Medley and Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt. The laid-back Lindo — who has written or co-written hit songs such as Gregory Isaacs’ ‘Red Rose for Gregory’ and Maxi Priest’s ‘Temptress’ — said his approach to music production is simple.
“I am a hands-on producer who strongly believes that teamwork makes the dream work. Apart from talent, chemistry and attitude are some of the things I look for when producing a duet,” he disclosed.
Released in July, ‘Don’t Know Much’ is number four on the South Florida Top 25 Reggae Chart. On it, Lindo renews his association with Novel-T; he produced ‘Let me Please You’ and ‘Love Won’t Let Us Wait’, her duets with singer Peter G which topped that table.
Hopeton Lindo has been recording music since the late 1970s, starting on sound systems throughout Kingston. His breakthrough song, ‘Territory’, was released in 1987 and featured an upcoming band known as the Firehouse Crew.