Renford Cogle
| Renford Cogle | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Renford George Cogle |
| Also known as | Rennie |
| Born | 20 June 1948 |
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies |
| Genres | Rocksteady, reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, arranger |
| Years active | 1971-present |
Renford "Rennie" Cogle (born 20 June 1948), is a singer and songwriter whose career spans more than three decades and about as many continents. His musical career started in 1972 when his friend, the late Delroy "Smooth Operator" Wilson, listened to his music and recorded "You Keep On Running". This was to be the first of many number one hits written by Cogle. Subsequent songs such as "Sweet Rose"; "Ring of Gold"; "Rock It To Me"; "Babylon Policy" and "Passion of Love" became international hit singles and were performed by Tony Brevett and The Melodians.
"Everybody Balling"; "Heart Breaking Love"; "Build Me Up"; "By the Rivers of Babylon"; "It's My Delight" and "Sweet Sensation", performed by Brent Dowe, are among the other hit songs he has written. "Sweet Sensation" was a worldwide success for British group UB40. It's been featured in the movie soundtrack Harder They Come and EastEnders, a popular British television soap opera. "Sweet Sensation" has been recently re-recorded by the Detroit Cobras. Cogle has also written Sharon Blacks "Struggling", Marcia Griffiths "Survival" and Joe Coleman's "The Way I Feel For You".
In 1982 Cogle contacted Polygram Records which is now Universal Music Publishers and signed a contract with them for thirty-nine of his songs. In 1987 the contract with Universal Music Publishers was re-written to include additional songs he had written; by 1997 this contract was finalized.
Cogle was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. on 20 June 1948 to Roberto Cogle and Doris Brown. He first attended Tweedside Primary School in Clarendon, Jamaica where his grandmother resided. His father, Roberto Cogle was a descendant of Irish immigrants. At the age of 12 he was taken back to Kingston by his mother and father. As a child, Cogle attained his early schooling at the Ebenezer Primary School located at Spanish Town Road and Darling Street. Ebenezer Primary School was later to become Operation Friendship. The students were then transferred to Denham Town Primary School where he found a passion in writing poetry. He later put melody to the words, and performed the songs during weekly music concerts.
The concerts were a significant part of the early development for music appreciation at the primary level. He says, "Every Friday, school concerts were held and students were encouraged to perform using their special talents. I used to sing the songs I wrote and they were always well received."
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