On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of his birth, the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, was honoured at a small ceremony at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange led an intimate group, comprising family members, representatives of Brown’s Rastafarian faith, fellow artistes and well-wishers on Tuesday morning to lay wreaths and remember a singer whose songs are timeless.
Although February 1 is not officially Dennis Brown Day, a special effort is made on this, the first day of Reggae Month, to pay homage to the reggae icon, who passed away on July 1, 1999, at age 42. Michelle Brown, the sister of the reggae singer, told The Gleaner that the family truly appreciates the tribute.
“I am present here today because of the tribute for my brother on his birthday and just to show my own appreciation for all the work and the love that he showed us. My brother died at a young age, but he did a lot of work during that relatively short time. He was one of those persons who put reggae out there internationally and he is loved all over. Most of his songs spread love because that’s just who he was. I feel proud and honoured,” Brown shared.
An avid fan, Brown admitted that a Dennis Brown concert could not miss her.
“Even when I was pregnant, I went to all his shows!” she confessed with a laugh.
“People use to seh, ‘This baby going to bawn a road,’ but that never happened. I remember going to Sting with him the year they when they stoned Bunny Wailer. That was really, really frightening. We had to take cover backstage but that didn’t stop me from going to my brother’s concert. I loved to watch him perform on stage. Singing was what he loved and what he was born to do,” Brown, who admitted that she “can’t hold a note”, said wistfully.
She expressed concern that the legacy and memory of veteran artistes like her brother could somehow gather dust as time progresses, but she is determined to play her role in ensuring that the memory of Dennis Brown lives forever.
“My brother did a lot of work; however, I realise that the younger generation, when you mention the name Dennis Brown they say ‘Who is that?’ It is up to us to keep the memory and legacy so they will know that he is one of foundation members of reggae music. On behalf of the family, I would like to say thanks to the organisers for carrying out this wreath-laying every year. We appreciate it. It’s not many of us as family here in Jamaica, and also on behalf of his family in England, his wife and children, I would like to say thanks to the Jamaican Government,” Brown said.
Noting that she had many great memories of her brother, Brown shared the special one which has to do with her own son.
BECAUSE OF MY BROTHER
“When I had my son, he actually gave him the name Joseph because he said he was born close to his month. So my son is Joseph and that is something I will remember because I gave him the name Joseph because of my brother,” she shared.
Dennis Emmanuel Brown enjoyed a prolific singing and recording career which began in the late 1960s. He grew up near Orange Street in downtown Kingston, in close proximity to several recording studios, therefore, it was easy for the talented youngster to secure a foothold on the music scene. At nine years old, he began performing with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, and by the time he was 11, young Dennis had his first of many number one songs. It was a cover of The Impressions’ No Man is an Island. In 1970, at the age of 13, Dennis Brown released his first album, also titled No Man is an Island, and produced by the legendary Coxsone Dodd at his famous Studio One.
During his career, Brown worked with virtually every major record producer in the country, including Derrick Harriott and Joe Gibbs. It was with Niney ‘The Observer’ Holness that he received international recognition with the release of Westbound Train, Cassandra, Africa and his signature song, Here I Come. His releases for Joe Gibbs included Visions, Words of Wisdom, Joseph’s Coat of Many Colours and Money in My Pocket. In 1983, Dennis Brown signed with the American label A&M Records and recorded the albums Love Has Found Its Way and The Prophet Rides Again.
His remained popular throughout the ‘90s until his death at the University Hospital on July 1, 1999, from respiratory failure due to a collapsed lung.
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