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PREZIDENT
BROWN
Prezident Brown
(born: Fitz Albert Cotterell)
has been called, "One of the
most interesting cultural dee-jays
since U Roy". Emphasizing
positive messages, Prezident
Brown has continued to pioneer
his own direction, developing
his own approach to dee-jaying
that he calls, "The chanting
stylee".
Born to a Seventh Day Adventist
family in Colonel Ridge,
Clarendon, Prezident Brown grew
up in the small town of
Oracabessa in the Parish of St.
Mary, Jamaica. He was forced to
leave school at a young age when
his father died leaving him with
his mother and three sisters.
Prezident Brown launched his
musical career at the age of
fourteen, when he began
dee-jaying for the Sound King
Stereo Mix at the Bamboo Lounge.
Initially known as Junior
Ranking, Prezident Brown was
dubbed, "Slim Brown", by dee-jay
Nicodemus. When he recorded his
debut single in 1988 Prezident
Brown was named, "Dancehall
Doctor". The late Jack Ruby,
producer of Burning Spear’s
albums, “Marcus Garvey”, and,
“Man In The Hills”, bestowed the
title, “Prezident”, upon him. In
1989, he joined Courtney Cole's
label, Roof International, and
began performing and dee-jaying
at the Rooftop Club in Ocho
Rios.
In 1990,
Prezident Brown became involved
with producers Barry O'Hare and
Steven Stewart at Grove Music in
Ocho Rios. It was Barry O'Hare's
X-Rated Record label that became
Prezident Brown’s home base and
it was X-Rated Records with Runn
Records that launched his career
in Europe. In Jamaica the
X-Rated label took off as a
massive roots revival swept
across the country paving the
way for Prezident Brown’s
conscious style of reggae
dee-jaying.
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In 1999 the
Jamaican record label Kariang
released the timeless, “To Jah
Only” album. In 2002 Jahmani
Productions in the US released a
2 CD disc called, “Showcase
Volume 1”. The 46 show tour that
followed that release took
Prezident Brown across the
United States and included
performances at The Sierra
Nevada World Music Festival, and
Reggae On The River. Jahmani
Productions then released
“Showcase Volume 2”, and
“Showcase Volume 3” which
includes a live performance from
the 2002 Mt. Shasta Renegade
Music Festival. In 2004 the
German based label Chet Records
with Sony Records released the
album, “Generation Next”.
Prezident Brown’s
most current release is
entitled, “Showcase Volume 4
Health and Strength”. He has
decided again to take his own
approach and sell the CD
directly, independent of any
record label. The album along
with other merchandise is
available at performances or
through his website,
Prezbrown.com.
Prezident Brown now lives in
Ocho Rios, in the Parish St.
Ann, Jamaica. He continues to
record and tour. He has
developed a strong following in
the United States and Europe,
and continues to grow musically
and in notoriety, as a champion
of the new roots and reality
consciousness reggae movement
Prezident Brown entertains,
informs and inspires.
Prezident Brown
Links:
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