U Brown
Encyclopedia
U Brown aka New Roy, Hugh Brown, Nuroy (born Huford Brown, 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica
) is a reggae
deejay
who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984.
's Treasure Isle studio. Heavily influenced by U-Roy
, but also citing Big Youth
, Dennis Alcapone
, Prince Jazzbo
and I-Roy
as influences, Brown began his career on the Silver Bullet sound system in the early 1970s, moving on to Sound of Music and replacing U-Roy on the King Tubby's Hi-Fi system in 1975. Brown was initially given a chance to record by Winston Edwards and then Yabby You
, and had a local hit in 1976 with "Starsky and Hutch", which was followed by a series of albums produced by Bunny Lee
. He was signed to Virgin Records
in the late 1970s, releasing two albums on their Front Line label. The Virgin contract enabled Brown to travel frequently to the United Kingdom
, where he performed with the Unity Hi Power sound system. Brown returned to prominence in 1982, with "Tu Sheng Peng" (a version of Dennis Brown
's "If This World Were Mine").
Brown set up his own Hit Sound label in 1977 as an outlet for his work as a producer.
In the 1980s, Brown relocated to Miami, returning to Jamaica in 1990.
Blood & Fire released a compilation of Brown's 1970s work in 1997, raising his profile and leading to new recordings, working with Jah Warrior
among others.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
) is a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984.
Biography
Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Duke ReidDuke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
's Treasure Isle studio. Heavily influenced by U-Roy
U-Roy
U-Roy , OD, is a Jamaican musician, also known as The Originator. He is best known as a pioneer of toasting.-Biography:...
, but also citing Big Youth
Big Youth
Manley Augustus Buchanan , better known as Big Youth , is a Jamaican deejay, mostly known for his work during the 1970s....
, Dennis Alcapone
Dennis Alcapone
Dennis Alcapone is a reggae DJ and producer.-Career:Smith initially trained as a welder and worked for the Jamaica Public Services...
, Prince Jazzbo
Prince Jazzbo
Prince Jazzbo is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay and producer.Prince Jazzbo began recording with Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label in the early 1970s...
and I-Roy
I-Roy
Roy Samuel Reid better known as I-Roy was a Jamaican DJ who had a very prolific career during the 1970s.-Biography:...
as influences, Brown began his career on the Silver Bullet sound system in the early 1970s, moving on to Sound of Music and replacing U-Roy on the King Tubby's Hi-Fi system in 1975. Brown was initially given a chance to record by Winston Edwards and then Yabby You
Yabby You
Vivian Jackson , better known as Yabby You , was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work.-Biography:...
, and had a local hit in 1976 with "Starsky and Hutch", which was followed by a series of albums produced by Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
. He was signed to Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in the late 1970s, releasing two albums on their Front Line label. The Virgin contract enabled Brown to travel frequently to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where he performed with the Unity Hi Power sound system. Brown returned to prominence in 1982, with "Tu Sheng Peng" (a version of Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
's "If This World Were Mine").
Brown set up his own Hit Sound label in 1977 as an outlet for his work as a producer.
In the 1980s, Brown relocated to Miami, returning to Jamaica in 1990.
Blood & Fire released a compilation of Brown's 1970s work in 1997, raising his profile and leading to new recordings, working with Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior is a United Kingdom roots reggae/dub production team, record label, sound system, and musical group centred around Steve Mosco.- Overview :...
among others.
Albums
- The Originator (1976) Carib Gems (Nuroy and U-Roy)
- Satta Dread (1976) Klik
- London Rock (1977) Third World
- Revelation Time (1977) Live & Love
- Mr Brown Something (1978) Virgin/Front Line
- Weather (1978) Gorgon, also released as You Can't Keep a Good Man Down (1978) Virgin/Front Line
- Repatriation (1979) Hit Sound
- Hotter Reggae Music (1982) Tad's, also issued as Tu Sheng Peng
- Raver's Party (1982) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- DJ Confrontation (1982) CF (with Peter Yellow)
- Jam It Tonight (1983) CSA, also issued as Black Princess (1999) Dressed To Kill
- Superstar (1984) Culture PressCulture PressCulture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. Many of their releases are of questionable legality and are often titled incorrectly.-LP Discography:*VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews...
- Train To Zion (1997) Blood & Fire (compilation)
- 3 The Roots Way (2001) Krescendo (with Ranking JoeRanking JoeRanking Joe aka Little Joe is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s.-Biography:...
and TrinityTrinity (musician)Trinity aka Junior Brammer is a reggae deejay and producer, whose career began in the mid-1970s and continued into the 1990s.-Biography:Born in 1954, Brammer was educated at the Alpha Boys School...
) - Rougher Than The Rest Jah WarriorJah WarriorJah Warrior is a United Kingdom roots reggae/dub production team, record label, sound system, and musical group centred around Steve Mosco.- Overview :...
- Still Standing Strong (2002) Hit Sound
- Rastafari Bible Belle
- Hit Sounds From Channel One (1999) Tabou 1 (compilation)
- The Original D.J. Sonic Sounds
- U Brown's Hit Sound (2007) Roots (compilation)