Barry Brown (singer)
Encyclopedia
Barry Brown was a Jamaican reggae
singer, initially coming to prominence in the 1970s with his work with Bunny Lee
, but remaining popular throughout his career.
Bunny Lee. After forming a short-lived group called The Aliens with Rod Taylor
and Johnny Lee, Brown went solo. Although his first release, "Girl You're Always On My Mind", had little impact, his vocal style soon found popularity, with his first hit single
coming with 1979's "Step It Up Youthman", which led to an album
of the same name on Paradise Records. One of the most successful artists of the early dancehall
era, Brown worked with some of Jamaica's top producers of the time, including Linval Thompson
, Winston "Niney The Observer" Holness
, Sugar Minott
and Coxsone Dodd
, as well as releasing self-produced material. He recorded for Studio One in 1983, including "Far East". After releasing eleven albums between 1979 and 1984, Brown's releases became more sporadic, although his work continued to feature prominently on sound systems such as those of Jah Shaka
.
In the 1990s, Brown's health deteriorated, suffering with asthma
and substance abuse problems, and he died in May 2004 in Sone Waves recording studio
in Kingston, Jamaica
, after falling and hitting his head.
Compilations:
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer, initially coming to prominence in the 1970s with his work with Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
, but remaining popular throughout his career.
Biography
Barry Brown was one of a number of singers to find success in the 1970s under record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Bunny Lee. After forming a short-lived group called The Aliens with Rod Taylor
Rod Taylor (singer)
Rod Taylor is a reggae singer and producer, born in Jamaica, West Indies-Biography:After forming a short-lived group called The Aliens with Barry Brown and Johnny Lee, Taylor recorded his first single, "Bad Man Comes and Goes" in 1975 for Ossie Hibbert...
and Johnny Lee, Brown went solo. Although his first release, "Girl You're Always On My Mind", had little impact, his vocal style soon found popularity, with his first hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
coming with 1979's "Step It Up Youthman", which led to an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
of the same name on Paradise Records. One of the most successful artists of the early dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
era, Brown worked with some of Jamaica's top producers of the time, including Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and record producer.-Biography:Thompson was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but spent time with his mother in Queens, New York, and his recording career began around the age of 20 with the self-released "No Other Woman," recorded in Brooklyn, New...
, Winston "Niney The Observer" Holness
Niney the Observer
Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer , is a Jamaican record producer and singer who was a key figure in the creation of many classic reggae recordings dating from the 1970s and early 1980s....
, Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
and Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
, as well as releasing self-produced material. He recorded for Studio One in 1983, including "Far East". After releasing eleven albums between 1979 and 1984, Brown's releases became more sporadic, although his work continued to feature prominently on sound systems such as those of Jah Shaka
Jah Shaka
Jah Shaka has been operating a South East London-based, roots reggae Jamaican sound system since the early 1970s. His name is an amalgamation of the Rastafarian term for God and that of a Zulu warrior, Shaka Zulu.-Career:...
.
In the 1990s, Brown's health deteriorated, suffering with asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
and substance abuse problems, and he died in May 2004 in Sone Waves recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, after falling and hitting his head.
Discography
- Step It Up Youthman (1978), Paradise
- Stand Firm (1978), Justice
- Cool Pon Your Corner (1979), TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- Superstar (1979), Striker Lee/Jackpot
- I'm Not So Lucky (1980), Black Roots
- Prince Jammy Presents Barry Brown Showcase (1980), Jammy's/Micron
- Showcase (1980), Third World
- Artist Of The 80's (1980), TR International
- Vibes of Barry Brown (1981), Gorgon
- Far East (1982), Channel One
- Barry (1982), Vista Sounds - reissued as The Best of Barry Brown (1995), JA Classics
- I'm Still Waiting (1983), Rocktone Records
- Showdown Vol 1 (1984), Empire/Hitbound - with Little JohnLittle John (musician)John McMorris , better known as Little John, is a Jamaican dancehall musician best known for his 1980s recordings.-History:Born 1970 in Kingston, Jamaica, Litle John was so called as he began performing and recording at the age of nine...
- Roots & Culture (1984), Uptempo - with Willi WilliamsWilli WilliamsWilli Williams is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and producer. He is known as the "Armagideon Man" after his hit, "Armagideon Time", first recorded in 1978 at Studio One in Kingston. The song was covered by The Clash as the flipside of their "London Calling" single.-Biography:Williams was born...
- Right Now (1984), Time
- More Vibes Of Barry Brown Along With Stama Rank (1986), King Culture - with Stama Rank
- Same Sound (1990)
- Reggae Heights (2003), Mafia & Fluxy
Compilations:
- The Best Of Barry Brown (1984), Culture PressCulture PressCulture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. Many of their releases are of questionable legality and are often titled incorrectly.-LP Discography:*VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews...
- Barry Brown, Thompson Sound
- Mr Moneyman (1991), Lagoon
- Barry Brown & Johnny Clarke Sings Roots & Culture (1992), Fatman - with Johnny ClarkeJohnny ClarkeJohnny Clarke , Whitfield Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae musician.-Biography:Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay, his prize a meeting with producer Clancy Eccles, with whom he recorded his first song, "God Made the Sea and the...
- Love & Protection (1998), Prestige
- Showcase : Midnight Rock At Channel One (1999), Abraham
- Barry Brown Meets Cornell Campbell (2000), Culture Press
- Platinum - the Greatest Hits (2001)
- Roots And Culture (2002), Studio One
- Roots Ina Greenwich Farm (2002), Cactus - with Johnny Clarke
- Steppin Up Dub Wise (2003), Jamaican Recordings
- Rich Man Poor Man (2003), Moll Selekta
- At King Tubbys Studio (2007), Attack