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PRESS RELEASE Monday 26 March 2012
COMMEMORATIVE BLUE PLAQUE TO HONOUR “THE CROWN PRINCE OF REGGAE” DENNIS EMMANUEL BROWN On Saturday 7th April, as part of the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence celebrations, the Nubian Jak Community Trust in association with the Jamaica High Commission, the Federation of Reggae Music (FORM), and Brent Council, will unveil a commemorative blue plaque to the undisputed crown prince of reggae music, Dennis Emmanuel Brown. The plaque will be unveiled at Hazeldean Road, his former London home in Harlesden where he shared with his musician brother. With apparently over 800 album releases to his name, and literally 1000s of recorded song titles, a recent submission has been made with the Guinness Book of Records, to have Dennis Brown, recognised as the most prolific recording artist in music history. But while some other Jamaican recording artists of the genre may have had more commercial success, there is no disputing the appeal of Brown‟s music, or his historic place and status within reggae as its “crown prince.” Dennis Emmanuel Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on the February 1st 1957. His professional career began at the age of 11, when he made a guest appearance as lead singer for a band called the Fabulous Falcons, who had been invited to perform at Jamaica‟s national arena as part of a political conference by the Jamaican Labour Party. The renowned band leader Byron Lee, who had also been performing at the conference, was so impressed with the youngster that he invited Brown to subsequently appear at a number of packaged stage shows around the island where Brown was billed as the “boy wonder.” It wasn‟t long before he came to the attention of producers Derrick Harriott and later Clement “Coxone” Dodd, who was to release his first single “No Man is an Island” in 1969. The song received steady airplay for almost a year before finally going on to become a national hit in the Jamaican charts. This was followed by a series of recording with other labels and producers until 1972, when Brown after teaming up with Joe Gibbs, made his international break through with his hit Money in My Pocket. The song would become his biggest chart success, and was even a UK smash hit seven years later, peaking in the charts at number 14. Brown continued to record prolifically, yet despite his star status he remained true to the roots of reggae. Today it is virtually impossible to go a gathering any where in the world where reggae music is played without hearing the music of Dennis Brown. By the late 1990s, Brown‟s health began to rapidly deteriorate, and he had developed respiratory problems brought on by his well documented use of cocaine. In May 1999, he was diagnosed with pneumonia after a tour of Brazil, and on returning to Jamaica developed further complications. On the 30th June 1999, age 42, Dennis Brown was rushed to Kingston‟s University Hospital suffering from cardiac arrest. He died the following day. He is survived by his wife Yvonne and 13 children. In October 2011, 12 years after his passing Dennis Emanuel Brown was awarded with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) for his contribution to the Jamaican music industry. Follow us on Twitter @NubianJak
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