3 months ago
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February has been a busy month for Rastafarian reggae singer, Marlon Brown, who was once labelled “one of the greatest hidden talents in Jamaica”. Determined to no longer remain hidden, Brown and his management mapped out an in-your-face programme for him for the month of February.
Actually, he started his intense, Reggae Month-long series of shows early with a kick-off event on January 31 at Skyline Level in St Andrew. The following day, he represented well at the Dennis Brown tribute show hosted by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
A few days later, on the Thursday, Brown performed at Jam in France at the French Embassy in St Andrew and used the opportunity to tell all about his album launch which was scheduled for the following Tuesday at Dubwise Café.
His other events in February included a performance at Kingston Night Market on Hillcrest Ave in St Andrew, the International Music Conference at the Courtleigh Auditorium last week Thursday, and a performance at the Denham Town community event on Tuesday.
“What better time than Reggae Month when all eyes are on us to get Marlon out there?” asked Brown’s manager, Bridgett Anderson. “We have been going full speed and it has been going well with both performances and interviews ... even radio stations outside of Jamaica are showing interest. The reception at French Embassy was a great experience … he did all original songs and moved the crowd. And the album launch was a success. The band, Ozou’ne and Pon Fyah, was simply brilliant … and we had people like Fred Locks, Brinsley Forde, Niney Holness, French reggae singer David Cairoll, and Dr Donna Hope.”
Anderson, whose skills also include décor, has been in the business of artiste management for decades, tracing her journey to projects with the late, great, Garnett Silk and, in more recent times, with Samory I. She is now journeying with Brown, whose sound, she says, should see him conquering Europe.
“It’s message music mixed with a lot of love” was her take on the 11-track album, Something Special Deluxe.
30-YEAR VETERAN
Brown shared that he has been loving his assignments, with each one having a special place in his heart.
“Going through the gates at the French Embassy and talking with Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch and seeing a lot of artistes who I haven’t seen in a long time was great,” Brown told The Gleaner.
And Kingston Night Market was not only “a joy”, the promoter, Aunty Hya, was also present at the French Embassy and she sent Brown a letter. It was read at the album launch on February 18 and it was really enough to make anybody’s head swell.
“ Wow! What a performance! Congratulations on your incredible showcase at the French Embassy last Thursday. You were nothing short of phenomenal — completely in command of your stage, delivering with precision, power, and passion. Watching you perform was an experience in itself. You were on top of your game, effortlessly weaving magic into every note, every movement. Your execution was flawless, your energy electric, and your presence undeniable. I was so moved by your artistry that I found myself overcome with emotion — tears of pride and admiration for the masterful way you held your audience in the palm of your hand,” Aunty Hya said in her congratulatory letter.
Brown, who started singing from a youth while attending the Greenwich Town Methodist Church, has been in the music business for 30-plus years.
“My grand-aunt didn’t want me to be an artiste, she wanted me to be a lawyer or a doctor but that wasn’t really my calling. She knew I had the talent, but perhaps because of the type of people in the community who were into music … some of them went crazy,” Brown said, reflecting on his path.
“But I’ve got this driving force within me telling me to keep going. This is the first album. I’ve got music outside ... but finding the right producers is hard. And then I found Chinna [Smith, legendary guitarist] and I went around him and started learning how to play guitar. I feel great within myself knowing that something that I have been holding onto for more than five years is finally getting a real showcase. I feel overwhelmed because, once upon a time, I thought I had nothing good going on,” he continued.
Inspired by all that has happened to him during Reggae Month, Brown is ready to pack his tour bags “because the best is yet to come”.
English (US) ·