On July 18, almost 22 years to the day, Jamaica said its final goodbye to a man who had devoted his life to music and used his talent to touch every corner of Jamaican life with his infectious sounds. Dennis Emmanuel Brown had earned his moniker, The Crown Prince of Reggae music. Twenty-two years later, his status as Reggae royalty remains unchallenged. 

Published July 18, 1999

Dennis Brown buried

Crown Prince’s funeral a celebration

by Andrew Clunis: Staff Reporter

FAR removed from tear-jerking, the service of thanksgiving for the life of the late Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a celebration perfumed by ganja smoke, coloured by the Rastafarian signature colours red, green and gold and dominated by his music.

He was sent off in style by thousands of friends, fans, colleagues and family members, who for the most part, wore ’cheerful’ colours.

The turnout at the National Arena in Kingston, was smaller than anticipated, however. There were seats available inside the Arena, although hundreds of persons opted to stay outside and listen to the ceremony as it blared from the large speaker boxes. Generally, the event seemed not to have generated the public interest expected for an artiste of Dennis Brown’s renown.

It was a quality audience who said good-bye to reggae’s Crown Prince. A number of dignitaries were in attendance, headed by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Bruce Golding, and members of the Diplomatic Corps, who joined the late singer’s wife, Yvonne, and his children in occupying front row seats.

The music industry showed tremendous respect for Dennis Brown’s work. Just about every high-ranking individual of the reggae industry was there, but it was noticeable that most of the dancehall’s top acts and reggae’s new generation were absent.

There was a large and colourful herd from the Twelve Tribes of Israel organisation, representing their leader Vernon Carrington, who was said to be unwell and away in England. An address was made on his behalf by Sister Simeon.

The ceremony, which included a poignant musical tribute, lasted approximately three and a half hours. Officiating clergymen were Reverend Adrian McLean, Rev. Al Miller and Father Barrington Soares.

The first tribute in song was paid by Virginia Thom, followed by an oratory by Norma Russell. The lessons were read by David Brown, the late singer’s son, and the singer’s background vocalist, Cheryl Neufville-Crooks. There was a chant by the five children with his wife Daniel, Dinah, Deneice, Dennis and Debra.

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, in a moving tribute, hailed Dennis Brown as one of a few people whose songs could be enjoyed by people of all ages. He said that Dennis Brown deserved national recognition, as he had become a musical legend of all times.

’For his musical contribution alone, Dennis Brown deserves national recognition and doubly so for the difference he made to our lives for over 30 unbroken years. No wonder that his death has brought together the leading lights of the music fraternity in calling on the nation to accord him a special place on the list of distinguished contributors to our cultural enrichment.’

He added: ’Honouring his memory is about ensuring the mechanisms are put in place so that our musical icons are consistently highlighted, celebrated and appropriately honoured by all sectors beginning with the music industry itself, the wider private sector, and, of course, the state.’

Dennis Brown died without ever being accorded a national honour.

In his tribute, Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga said that wherever Dennis Brown was buried would be a hero’s grave. He stirred emotions as he spoke about his early association with Dennis Brown in the West Kingston cultural movement. He said that most of Jamaica’s cultural heroes have either risen from the inner-city or the rural areas of the country and have gone on to represent the country well at home and abroad.

The singer’s brother, Leroy Clarke read the eulogy. He said Dennis was an inspiration to his life and those of many persons around the world. He read a poem in memory of his brother.

Musical tributes were paid by Lloyd Parkes and We the People band, A.J. Brown, Freddie McGregor, Gregory Isaacs, Pam Hall, Ken Boothe, George Nooks, Carlene Davis, Richie Stephens, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, the Jamaica Association of Female Artistes choir, which included Marcia Griffiths, Nadine Sutherland, Heather Cummings, J.C. Lodge and others, as well as Mikey Spice, who was released from prison for the occasion.

As the band struck up the musical introduction which Dennis Brown used to start his performances, several of his children huddled together in tears. A mystic vibe covered the Arena, which then became a dancehall as people got up from their seats and took to the floor.

Tommy Cowan elicited a vibrant response from the crowd as he closed the remembrance with the lines he used to introduce Dennis Brown on stage. The Twelve Tribes of Israel then formed the Guard of Honour and Dennis Brown’s body left the National Arena for the National Heroes Park, where he was interred.

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