Independent men
This week marks the birthdays of reggae’s most influential artistes — Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. Marley, who died in May 1981 at age 36 would be 70 on February 6. Dennis Brown died in July 1999. He would have celebrated his 58th birthday on Sunday. The Jamaica Observer looks at their careers through daily titbits in February, recognised as Reggae Month.
BOB Marley and Dennis Brown were signed to high-profile independent labels, with contrasting fortunes.
From 1972 until his death in 1981, Marley was signed to Island Records, regarded as the most powerful ‘indie’ company in the music business.
Marley’s Island albums were not big sellers in the 1970s, but he was a strong touring act, especially in Europe. Today, the Marley catalogue is one of the most coveted in popular music, registering in the millions like Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Hendrix.
The Island ‘Marley greatest hits’ album, Legend, is one of the best sellers in pop music. It has sold over 25 million units since its 1984 release.
Dennis Brown recorded three albums for A&M Records, which was founded in 1962 by music industry mavericks Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert.
Initially, his hardcore fans frowned on some of the songs ‘the Crown Prince’ did for A&M, such as Foul Play and Love Has Found Its Way, but have warmed to them over the years.
The Prophet Rides Again, released in 1983, was Brown’s final album for A&M which thrived during the 1980s with acts like The Police, Bryan Adams and Sting.
Interestingly, one of Brown’s finest albums, Inseparable, seemed strongly influenced by his A&M years.
— Howard Campbell