HAIL TO THE KING AND PRINCE OF REGGAE!

Bob Marley & Dennis Brown

THIS week marks the birthdays of reggae’s most influential artists — Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. Marley, who died in May 1981 at age 36 would be 70 on February 6.

Dennis Brown died  July 1, 1999. He would have celebrated his 58th birthday yesterday. The Jamaica Observer looks at their careers through daily tidbits in February, recognised as Reggae Month.

* Dennis Brown and Bob Marley recorded for producer Clement ‘Coxson’ Dodd’s Studio One early in their careers. As a member of The Wailers, Marley’s hits at Studio One included Simmer Down and It Hurts to be Alone. No Man is an Island and If I Follow my Heart are among Brown’s hits for Dodd.

* Marley and Brown performed on two shows during their long careers: the April 1978 One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium, and at Reggae Sunsplash at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay the following year.

* In 1973, Marley began recording Natty Dread, his first solo album for Island Records. It contained the classic songs No Woman, No Cry, So Jah Seh and Them Belly Full. That year, 17-year-old Dennis Brown teamed with producer Winston ‘Niney’ Holness and the Soul Syndicate Band for the hit songs Cassandra, Westbound Train and No More Shall I Roam.