Barry Brown (singer)

For the Canadian country music singer-songwriter, see Barry Brown (Canadian musician).
Barry Brown
Birth name Barrington Michael Brown
Born c.1962
Jamaica
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Died 29 May 2004
Genres Reggae
Years active Mid-1970s2004

Barry Brown (c. 1962, Jamaica — 29 May 2004) was a Jamaican reggae singer, initially coming to prominence in the 1970s with his work with Bunny Lee, but remaining popular throughout his career.

Biography

Barry Brown was one of a number of singers to find success in the 1970s under record producer Bunny Lee. After forming a short-lived group called The Aliens with Rod Taylor and Johnny Lee,[1] 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.[2] 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.[2] He recorded for Studio One in 1983, including "Far East".[2] 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.[3]

Discography

Compilations

References

  1. Liner notes to Rod Taylor's Shining Bright album
  2. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 40
  3. Singer Barry Brown is dead - News - JamaicaObserver.com

External links

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