Reggae icon: Dennis Brown

Dennis Emmanuel Brown, the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’, was born on this day in 1957 in Kingston. Brown grew up on Orange Street which, at that time, was home to many recording studios. The pre-teen Brown began his music career at age 11 when he recorded his first hit song, a cover called No Man Is an Island.

Brown would go on to record as many as 75 albums – six to seven per year at the peak of his popularity – which included hits like Here I Come, Revolution, and Love Has Found Its Way.

Brown is remembered for his kindness and was revered by even the King of Reggae himself, Bob Marley. Brown died on July 1, 1999, after years of battling a substance addiction. But he remains one of the most popular faces and voices of reggae.

Brown bears the distinction of being the only recording artiste in Jamaican popular music to be interred at the National Heroes Park. Today, the first day of Reggae Month, the lovers rock singer will be honoured with ‘Remembering Dennis Brown’, a gathering at the resting place of the icon to commemorate his 63rd birthday, at the National Heroes Park at 4 p.m.

Reggae Rhymes

“If you wanna live a, live a, live a, live a, live, live forever

You got to love a, love a, love a, love a, love, love each other

Say you gotta live, live, live, live on, live on forever

And love, love, love, love, love, love one another”

– from Dennis Brown’s Revolution