Phillip Leo

Born Philip Pottinger in Greenwich, London, England, Leo first gained widespread recognition through his longstanding partnership with C.J. Lewis, the artist who achieved notable crossover appeal during the early 1990s. Their shared passion for music dated back to childhood, prompting both to build careers in the same field. Leo’s initial exposure came at Roger Manwood School, where participation in the steel band helped him develop proficiency on kit drums and keyboards alike. He entered the industry professionally as a songwriter once he submitted a 90-minute demo to Fashion Records; the label responded with enthusiasm, remarking that after inquiring whether Leo had anything further, “two further tapes arrived within the week!” Several tracks from those early recordings later became hits for leading UK vocalists such as Janet Lee Davis with “Two Timing Lover,” Peter Spence with “Crazy Feeling,” and Nerious Joseph with both “Show The World” and “She Gone And Left Me.”

His longtime associate Lewis supplied the DJ work on the 1989 reggae chart-topper “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?” and repeated the role for 1990’s “Good Thing Going.” Leo himself released the atmospheric “Hypnotic Love” in 1993, incorporating his regular collaborator on the ragga version. The track’s success soon led to Lewis signing with a major label that engaged Leo as co-producer, after which the pair delivered a string of crossover successes. Building on that momentum, Leo explored an R&B direction with the 1994 single “Second Chance,” though the release did not achieve comparable results. He had long shown readiness to explore styles beyond any single genre, yet this openness met with limited encouragement; he remains active in the business and is regarded as a popular figure.