For the second year straight, there will be no ‘bashment’ norfree concert, whether on Orange Street or the Kingston waterfront, to celebrate the February 1 birthday of the acclaimed Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown. However, there will be the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the National Heroes Park, where his remains are interred, and which will be attended by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, members of the Dennis Brown Trust, as well as close associates.
Dennis Brown, who passed away on July 1, 1999, would have celebrated his 65th birthday this year.
“It is unfortunate that we will not be able to stage the concert, but it is a huge event, and we certainly would not get a permit to host it. In 2020, we had a big concert at the waterfront, and then COVID struck. Dennis’ big thing was live music, and Dennis really loved people. The concert gives the industry players a chance to come together and really celebrate his life. And everybody shows up, no matter how big or small a name. They are all there backstage and the camaraderie is great. And the thing is that everybody performs for free. Every year I have a challenge, because so many artistes want to perform and I have to say no to some. But at the end of the night, it’s all about celebrating the incredible human being named Dennis Brown,” Chairman of the Dennis Brown Trust, Junior Lincoln, told The Gleaner.
Lincoln shared that the wreath-laying at Brown’s tomb will take place at 9:30 a.m. and it will be a festive affair that which will kickstart off a day of tributes for the singer who, during his lifetime, recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers’ rock.
REGGAE MONTH
“On Tuesday, the radio stations, especially in London, will be playing Dennis Brown songs all day long. There was a documentary that was done last year by the ministry – Dennis Emmanuel Brown: The Crown Prince of Reggae; the Man and the Music – which they are thinking of showing this year. It wouldn’t be [shown] on his birthday, but during Reggae Month, which is February,” Lincoln, who is also a producer, film-maker and concert promoter, said.
A long-time friend and collaborator, Lincoln noted that Dennis Brown was “like my son”. In fact, the two share the same February 1 birthday. Dennis Brown celebrated his 18th birthday in England while there under the guidance of Lincoln, who, having migrated from Trench Town, owned and operated a record shop in that country.
“I associated with Dennis Brown from he was a boy. In 1974, he came to London for a tour and I remember that he performed at the Rainbow Theatre in north London and everybody was jumping up and down with excitement because it was the first time they were seeing Dennis Brown perform, and he did a great show. Dennis was the only artiste who could close Reggae Sunsplash at 11 a.m. the following morning and everybody stand up and wait for his performance. And the amazing thing about Dennis is that when he leaves that Sunsplash stage, with people screaming for more, he would walk over to me and ask, ‘Mr Lincoln, what did I do wrong?’ And that was because I had told him early in his career that there was never ever a perfect show. And he never forgot my words,” Lincoln recalled.
Regarding festivities for his own birthday on Tuesday, this year will be no different for Lincoln. He will be busy celebrating the birthday of the Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, and ensuring that his legacy lives on.
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