Today (February 1), marks a special day in Jamaica’s cultural history, not only is it the beginning of Reggae Month, but it is the birthday of the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’ Dennis Emmanuel Brown.

Decades after his passing in the late 1990s, Dennis Brown’s musical legacy lives on because of the timeless and relatable messages communicated in his lyrics.

The reggae icon has also been an inspiration for many reggae singers including Bob Marley, Barrington Levy, Junior Reid, Luciano, Bushman and Frankie Paul.

Things to know about the reggae icon Dennis Brown

Son of a performer

The Crown Prince of Reggae is the son of the now-deceased Arthur Brown, another Jamaican cultural star who was widely known for his skills in acting.

Arthur was among the island’s top comedians who provided many Jamaicans with a belly-full of laughter during the pre-independence period along with other comedians such as Bim and Bam and Ranny Williams.

He is also said to be a major inspiration for the late Dennis Brown’s stage performances.

Aquarius

Dennis Brown was born on February 1, 1957, which makes him an aquarious. Aquarius is the eleventh astrological sign in the zodiac, originating from the constellation Aquarius.

These persons are said to be clever, analytical, technical, truthful, assertive and confident.

An early start!

Dennis Brown began his musical career at the age of 9 when he was still in junior school. His first public performance was at an end-of-term concert at his school.

The Here I Come singer reportedly would regularly hang around JJ’s record store on Orange Street in downtown Kingston in the rocksteady era and his relatives and neighbours would often throw him pennies to hear him sing in their yard.

However, his first professional performance was when he visited the Tit for Tat nightclub in Kingston where he made a guest appearance with the club’s resident group, the Fabulous Falcons.

A prolific musical career

During his career, the recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock. Some of these albums include Love & Hate: The Best of Dennis Brown, Deep Down, Words of Wisdom and Wild Fire.

READ: Happy Heavenly Birthday, Dennis Brown!: Top 8 songs from the ‘Crown Prince’ to add to your playlist