A woman for all decades, J.C. Lodge’s career is indeed diverse and impressive, spanning across music, visual arts, and education.  Born June Carol Lodge on December 1, 1958, in London, England, she is a British-Jamaican reggae singer, fine artist, and teacher. Raised in Jamaica as a child, she developed a passion for music, particularly R&B and reggae.

Her breakthrough hit, “Someone Loves You, Honey,” a reggae version of Charley Pride’s country and western tune, became the best-selling single of 1982 in the Netherlands. The success of the record contributed to her receiving gold and platinum discs in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, producer Joe Gibbs neglected to pay royalty rights for the song and was eventually sued by Pride. J.C. Lodge collaborated with songwriter Errol O’Meally, recording songs for Gibbs Recording Studio. The reggae version of “Someone Loves You, Honey” topped the Jamaican charts and led to the release of an album of the same name in 1982. She followed this with the 1985 album “Revealed.” In 1988, she recorded “Telephone Love” for Gussie Clarke, which became the first dancehall reggae track to cross over in the R&B and hip-hop markets of the United States. “Telephone Love” topped the urban charts in New York and other cities, earning her a deal with the Warner Brothers under their Tommy Boy label.  The collaborative effort produced “Tropic of love” while the accompanying single “Home is where the hurt is” scored a top 50 spot on the R&B charts. Lodge’s albums featured a mix of reggae, R&B, and pop material, often written by herself or O’Meally . Producers like Joe Gibbs, Willie Lindo, Gussie Clarke, Errol O’Meally, and Neil Fraser (Mad Professor) contributed to her success with several hits and awards. Lodge continued working and touring while putting out a few albums. In 1993 she gave us “To the max”, “Special Request” in 1994 and “Love for all season” in 1996. In 2001, J.C. Lodge returned to England, recording “Reggae Country” for Jet Star, an album covering American country songs. Lodge also did a duet with dancehall sensation Tiger, entitled “Love me baby” and a remix of “telephone love” with the “Grammy kid” Shabba Ranks. She pursued a teaching degree and balanced work as a school teacher with her music career.

Inspired by the birth of her daughter in 1994, Lodge started to create original songs to motivate children. She released two cassette albums called “Sing ‘n’ Learn,” addressing manners and environmental awareness for pre-teens. The cassettes were well-received in Jamaica, with the Ministry of Education ordering a copy for every Basic School on the island. In 2000, she produced a 13-part children’s television series based on the cassette albums, receiving critical acclaim and awards. The show got awarded by the Press Association of Jamaica and also the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

 J.C. Lodge’s multifaceted career showcases her talents as a singer, artist, and educator, with significant contributions to reggae music and children’s entertainment.