Born: February 1,1957 (Kingston, Jamaica)
Died: July 1, 1999 (Kingston, Jamaica)
Often referred to as "Emmanuel, the Crown Prince of Reggae," Dennis Brown was Bob Marley's favorite singer. He was in his teens when his career began, recording initially (and typically) for Coxsone Dodd, scoring big with a 1968 cover of "No Man Is an Island" (the Impressions) in 1968. In the '70s he made a series of exciting albums for Joe Gibbs and had a U.K. hit with his classic "Money in My Pocket." From 1977 to 1982 he recorded for Joe Gibbs, in his peak period producing such classics as "Revolution," "Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)," "The Promised Land," and "Sitting and Watching." A live album was cut in Montreux in 1979, a year after he was featured in the film Heartland Reggae. With a no-nonsense, straight-ahead style, Brown was capable of wrapping a love song in a crooning caress or inciting a crowd (as he did memorably at the 1983 Sunsplash in Montego Bay) to heights of uncontrolled hysteria. He continued to be one of Jamaica's classiest and most riveting performers until his death from respiratory failure on July 1, 1999.
bio from Reggaetrain.com
