Cleon Roberts remembers the story of a soulful reggae hit that went head-to-head with Madonna in the charts.

The article focuses on the story of Sonny Roberts, a pioneering Caribbean music producer and record shop owner in London, and the success of the reggae hit "Can't Be With You Tonight" by St. Vincent singer Judy Boucher. Roberts, part of the Windrush Generation, founded Planetone, the UK's first Black-owned recording studio, and later opened Orbitone Records in Harlesden. The song, recorded over a year with Roberts' support, gained popularity in 1986, notably boosted by ITV fitness instructor Lizzie Webb, and competed for 15 weeks against Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" on the charts. Despite not reaching number one, the track became Roberts' highest-charting hit, highlighting his significant influence on British Caribbean music.