4 months ago
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A triumphant celebration of the life and times of reggae’s beloved Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, unfolded seamlessly last Saturday at the amphitheatre at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
It was a last-minute change of venue from the UDC Festival Marketplace in downtown Kingston, owing to what Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) Chairman Ewan Simpson told The Gleaner was a denial of permit from the relevant authorities because of violence in the area.
Undoubtedly, that would have affected attendance to the concert, which kick-started Reggae Month 2025. However, the space wasn’t massive, and it soon filled up with the faithfuls, who kept the vibes high for close to four hours as they danced, sang, and showed appreciation for the singers and players of instruments who all delighted in paying homage to the legend.
In tribute to Dennis Brown, some wore white, which is the colour of the tribe of Joseph, which Twelve Tribes of Israel Rastafarian entertainer was part of. The décor, by Bridgett Anderson, also had the name ‘Joseph’ standing out bold in white lettering on the stage.
Dennis Brown would have been 68 on February 1, and it was a testament to his legacy that not only his peers, but also their children understood the importance of representing on such an occasion. Chino, the son of Freddie McGregor, told The Gleaner that “Uncle Dennis is the Foundation” he had to be marked present, and Christopher Ellis, the son of Alton Ellis, expressed similar sentiments.
They both gave great performances, with Ellis even sharing that the song If I Follow My Heart was actually written by his father, who decided that Dennis Brown would do justice to it, and so he gave him the song to sing.
Dennis Brown’s look-alike daughter, Marla, who lives in England, performed Queen Majesty in tribute to her father while Pashon Minott, daughter of Sugar Minott and Julian Marley, son of Bob Marley, showed their support for the legacy of the Crown Prince of Reggae with their presence.
It was a refreshing evening of “Puuullll uppppp!” from the crowd as the artistes journeyed through the big hits bursting out of Dennis Brown’s 75-album deep catalogue. Veteran singer Boris Gardiner chose Dennis Brown’s version of the hit So Nice to be With You, a song which he also covered and was title song of his own début album in 1969. Nostalgia took hold when sounding like he did in 1986, Gardiner pulled for I Want to Wake up With You and it proved to be yet another of those “Puuullll uppppp!” moments.
Veteran singer Errol Dunkley spoke highly of his bredren, Dennis Brown, who he travelled the world with and celebrated each other’s success. He paid tribute with a Dennis Brown song and closed with his mega hit, Black Cinderella, starting a frenzy. Richie Stephens was also a show stopper, and he wasted no time in entertaining with favourites such as Trying to Get to You, First Time I Met You, Fresh Vegetable, and World’s Greatest Fool.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Benjy Myaz brought the curtains down, opening with the timeless track I Love You Higher followed by Time Alone, and in honour of Dennis Brown, he performed Girl Your Love Is Like Wild Fire. At one point, he was joined on stage by veteran guitarist Ian ‘Beezy’ Coleman, who is also making his name as a singer.
Digicel Rising Stars winner Akeen Fennell, DMedz, Farenizzi, Kevoy Clarke, Anthony Cruz, Deh Deh Blacks, Ruddy B, and Ryan Bailey were also among the singers who showed their love for reggae’s crown prince. Lloyd Parks and We the People Band and Dean Fraser kept the music in tune while Denise ‘Isis’ Miller and Coleen Douglas were the evening’s hosts.
JaRIA will host weekly Reggae Month activities originally scheduled for UDC Festival Marketplace at the amphitheatre.
English (US) ·