Cegrica “Soljie” Hamilton, the veteran engineer who worked with some of dancehall/reggae’s biggest artistes, died on December 24 at age 69. His son, Chioke Hamilton, said an autopsy showed a heart attack as the cause of death.

Hamilton, who died in Kingston, was scheduled to do engineer duties for Intimate, the January 1 show at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann featuring Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, two of the countless artistes he was associated with in a career that started at Channel One studio in the late 1970s.

When he first went to Channel One, Hamilton was a member of the Jamaica Defence Force. Largely self-taught, he established himself as one of Jamaica’s leading studio engineers, working with acts such as Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Luciano, Sizzla, and Junior Kelly.

In recent years, St Mary-born Hamilton toured with SOJA, the American band that won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album this year with Beauty In The Silence.

He was also a producer, releasing numerous songs through his Soljie label. At the time of his death, Hamilton was working on Firm And Strong, an album by gospel singer George “Brotha George” Wright, his friend of over 40 years.

Wright told the Jamaica Observer that they last spoke to each other one hour before his death.

“Soljie was like a big brother and mentor to me. He was a great, great engineer,” said Wright.

Cedrica “Soljie” Hamilton, who got married in October, is survived by his wife Michelle, children and grandchildren.

— Howard Campbell