Tim Hughes talks to chart-topping West Indian artist Susan Cadogan

A true great of Jamaican music, Susan Cadogan’s career as a singer almost never happened at all.

The artist, whose name is synonymous with her 1975 top four hit Hurt So Good, had been training to be a librarian and was working among the bookshelves at the University of the West Indies when she struck fame as one of the island’s biggest vocal talents.

While recording a song for the DJ boyfriend of a schoolfriend, she was overheard by legendary producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. He was so impressed, he went on to record her hit single and a complete album. But not before changing her name.

“My real name is Alison Anne,” she tells me in a rich Jamaican accent. “I was known as Anne at home – but Lee called me Susan. He said ‘since you have a sexy voice, you need a sexy name!’ “He had been looking for someone to cover that song, and because of that I came to London and went on Top of The Pops.”

Susan, 60, is speaking from London having arrived for a tour which tomorrow sees her playing Oxford’s O2 Academy. She plays the Cowley Road venue as a guest of DJ and reggae promoter ‘Count’ Aidan Larkin.

“Hurt So Good was like a gift,” she says. “There are some songs that have the right singer and right sound, and are the genuine article – and that was one. Though I am never satisfied with my songs; I always think they could be better.”

Susan, who now lives in Florida, has continued to make records, on and off, ever since. Recording seven long players since 1975 debut Doing It Her Way. Her latest collection, Two Sides of Susan came out in 2008. By anyone’s standards it’s a formidable career span.

“Isn’t it wonderful,” she says with delight. “I feel liberated. What else would you want to do in your lifetime? I’ve been through so much in my life, but even in a hundred years, people might still enjoy these songs.”

She is genuinely excited by what will be her first visit to Oxford, which coincides with her 62nd birthday. “I’m so glad to be going there,” she says. “I’ve never been to Oxford – and it’s great people remember me. All I have wanted to do is sing, make people happy and enjoy what I’m doing.

“Despite the years I still ‘drop it good’ – as good as I did back then! This is joyful music and it’s so uplifting.”

  • Susan Cadogan plays the O2 Academy tomorrow (Fri)
  • The night runs from 8pm-3am.
  • Tickets are £12 from ticketweb.co.uk