Dennis "The Crown Prince" Brown - Nuff Respect (1999)

Were it not for a fundamental flaw in his character, Dennis Brown, died at age 42, should have been crowned the undisputed king of reggae. After Bob Marley's death in 1981, fans were practically gagging to hand him the title. Even Marley himself had selected Brown as his successor, dubbing him the "crown prince" of reggae.

Managing to record over 70 albums and 300 singles over a 26 year career, he began his musical career at 9 years of age. A visit to Studio One at the age of 12 resulted in his first hits, the singles "No Man Is an Island". In a career that spanned 4 decades, Dennis worked with many of reggae's top names, beginning with Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, going on to work with Winston (Niney) Holness, Joe Gibbs, engineer Errol Thompson, Sly & Robbie, Gussie Clarke, Bunny Lee Delroy Wright, and many more.

Some of his major hits include "Whip them Jah Jah", "Revolution" and “Money in My Pocket” which hit the pop charts in England during the late 70’s. In 1994 he was nominated for a Grammy for the album “Light My Fire”.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Dennis Emmanuel Brown became ill while touring in Brazil in May 1999 smoking some of his last spliffs (or should I say crack-pipe?) with Gregory Isaacs and Max Romeo. He passed away soon thereafter in July of 1999. Though his initial cause of death was noted as respiratory failure, some reports state that Brown actually died of AIDS-related pneumonia. Around the industry, it was allegedly known that Brown had contracted AIDS and was a frequent crack-cocaine user.

In the days leading up to Dennis’ funeral, a reported 10,000 mourners (right) filed past the casket. Later, crowds watched a tribute at the National Arena, which included performances from Maxi Priest and Shaggy, as well as an appearance from his five (of thirteen) children.

Below is an 8 minute interview with him in 1982, as well as a video of a live performance of "Revolution"

Desmond Dekker - Nuff Respect (2006)

Desmond Dekker, a.k.a Desmond Adolphus Dacres, was the unanimous King of Ska. Dekker and his backing group the Aces had the first international Jamaican hit with Israelites. Released in 1968, it appeared on both the US and UK charts, eventually topping the UK and making Top Ten in the US. He was the first Jamaican performer to enter US markets with pure Jamaican music.

Orphaned as a teenager, Dekker began working as a welder, singing around his workplace while his coworkers encouraged him. Dekker also met Bob Marley at the plant he worked at, who was brought there by his mom to work. "We were very, very good friends," Dekker later said of Bob Marley. "I called him Robbie, he called me Iley One--it means a person who don't have no girlfriend, just eat and sleep and work" The two would go up to the roof of the plant and watch the cricket games (by day) and football games (at night), eating buns and drinking Fantas. "Bob loved to play football and I sometimes used to watch him play. I didn't play, 'cos cricket was more my thing." (See the full 1999 interview)

Dekker's next big hit, King of Ska, on which he was backed by the The Cherrypies (also known as The Maytals), became one of his early signature tunes and remains well-known among ska fans. Other hits include 007 (Shanty Town), from 1967, and It Mek (1969).

In May 2006, Dekker smoked his last spliff before suddenly dying of a heart attack at age 64. A true king. Check it.

Carlton "Carly" Barrett - Nuff Respect (1987)

Feel it in the one drop... Carlton "Carly" Barrett was the original originator of the one drop rhythm. This drumming scholar's first set of drums was made out of empty paint cans.

He and his brother, bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett (interesting interview - check it) were original members of the Upsetters where they began collaborating with Lee Perry. Bob Marley's Wailers at that time also began moshing it up with Lee Perry. The sessions began a major turning point in the history of reggae music. Between Bob Marley and Lee Perry it will probably never be known who really influenced who, but they probably fed off each other, each in their unique style.

Together they turned the beat down a notch, and thus began the most influential wave of reggae. In 1971, The Wailers / Upsetters collaboration ended in a massive clash over the money and songwriting credits involved, and Bob Marley convinced the Barrett brothers to joinThe Wailers, thus dissolving the most famous Upsetters line-up.

Carlton Barrett stuck with the Wailers from 1969 all the way to Bob Marley's death in 1981, personally writing "Them Belly Full", "Duppy Conqueror" and "Talkin Blues" (check all dem samples). "Field Marshal," as he liked to be called, is indeed the marshal of the one drop rhythm who kept the Wailers steady in his own militant style.

On Good Friday April 17, 1987 Carlton Barrett was brutally murdered as he opened the gate to his home, while smoking his last spliff. People say he was one of the greatest drummers to emerge from the small island of Jamaica.

Below is some footage of the Upsetters and the Heptones moshing it up in Lee Scratch Perry's Scratching Post studio, with some interesting commentary. Check it.

Jacob Miller - Nuff Respect (1980)

Jacob Miller, most famous as the frontman for Inner Circle in the 70's, was the man many people picked to be the most serious competition to Bob Marley in terms of worldwide reggae stardom. He and the band had just signed with Chris Blackwell's Island Records when he suddenly died in a car crash. He rammed into a stoplight on the way to by himslf some sugarcane.

To mark the opening of Island Record's new offices in Brazil, Blackwell, Miller and Bob Marley, went to Brazil for promotional appearances in mid-March. Two days after returning to Jamaica, at the age of only 25, Jacob Miller smoked his last spliff (probably in the car during the crash).

Inner Circle didn't play after that for 6 years, but later went on to record many albums and even won a Grammy in 1993. Thier most famous album by far was the Bad Boys album, with hits like Sweat (a la la la long) and the Theme from the TV show Cops. The video below is from the "Heartland Reggae" documentary about reggae music in the 70's. He's performing live in Jamaica in 1978 in what looks like some field, puts on a police hat and sparks up a big fatty.

Augustus Pablo - Nuff Respect (1999)

This is the first of many in a series of posts I'll be putting on my blog about all those amazing reggae artists, musicians, composers and engineers that are no longer with us. Many of whom I never got and never will get to see. I'll do my best to give thanks and praise as well as bring them back to life with some photos and videos so that we can celebrate their contribution to Reggae.

Augustus Pablo, also known as Horace Swaby. Smoked his last spliff at age 47 in 1999. Suffered most of his life from Myasthenia Gravis, a nerve disorder. He was most known for his mastering of the melodica, which kind of sounds like a harmonica but looks more like a miniature keyboard that you blow air into.

Pablo's most famous and probably best album was
Rebel Rock Reggae - This is Augustus Pablo.Below is a video of Pablo and the Soul Syndicate Band in Japan at Japan's Reggae Sunsplash in 1986. Check it.

Joseph "Culture" Hill - Nuff Respect (2006)

Joseph 'Culture' Hill died on August 19, 2006 after a show in Berlin, Germany. He was 57 years old. These photos and videos are a tribute to him... The first picture is a photo of when Culture visited and played at a peace concert in Israel in 1987. This was taken with some Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of Jerusalem's walls. The second picture is of Hill and the one and only Master of Reggae himself, the lion Bob Marley.



Two Videos - Culture Live in Africa - Too Long in Slavery and International Herb