The 2024 episode of Reggae Month South Florida celebrated a half century of reggae music from Miami to Fort Lauderdale with the iconic group, Inner Circle, supporting a number of events aiming to spotlight Jamaican artists, businesses and entrepreneurs in Fort Lauderdale, Miramar, Plantation and Miami Dade County and just about everywhere in between. A chief objective of the month-long list of Reggae Month South Florida festivities has been to bring awareness to the local community about the expansive nature of reggae music, its culture and global influence. And over the past few years, Inner Circle’s stewardship of a host of top quality Reggae Month festivities has shown tremendous growth as an annual celebration in South Florida.
This year, Inner Circle’s Reggae Month activities kicked off with an epic tribute event the late, great Dennis ‘Crown Prince’ Brown at the chic Blue Martini restaurant and upscale lounge in Fort Lauderdale. Adding to the mix of mesmerizing Jamaican reggae and cultural vibes at Blue Martini, was none other than the hugely popular backing sounds all courtesy of South Florida-based Visions Band.
Later on in February, the Dennis Brown tribute event was followed by the Jacob Miller tribute at Nomi Village in North Miami. Jacob Miller, was the charismatic vocalist who died tragically in March, 1980 at the age of 27 in a motor vehicle mishap. In a little short of a week after the Jacob Miller tribute at Nomi Village, ‘Praise On The Green’ took place all courtesy of Inner Circle at Shirley Branca Park in Miramar, Florida. Inner Circle’s Reggae Month energy would then reach a crescendo at the Reggae Month Jam finale alongside the sun-kissed Fort Lauderdale beach district. Inner Circle’s co-founder, Ian Lewis, envisions that in years to come the annual suite of Reggae Month events in South Florida will serve to educate Americans of Jamaican heritage in regard to the country’s rich culture that has contrbuted so much to the world.
Iconic Reggae Band Inner Circle, Visions Band, and an A-List of Top Celebs in the Building
How Did Reggae Month Come About?
Back in 2008, the Jamaican government officially designated February as Reggae Month, which would be marked by annual celebrations. Not only that, but the birthdates of three late reggae legends fall in February: Dennis Brown (February 1); Bob Marley (February 6); and Bunny Rugs (February 6). And although Reggae Month originated in its birthplace of Jamaica, South Florida is certainly regarded as a second home to the annual gatherings and celebrations to commemorate one of Jamaica’s greatest exports.
‘Black History Meets Reggae’
Of course, Reggae Month in Jamaica coincides with Black History Month in the United States so there are definitely numerous synergies to be highlighted, and just to name a few: African-American and Jamaican reggae artists have had a long musical association that can be traced to the early 1960s. And musicians, such as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack and Gwen Guthrie, are just some notable examples of American artists who have collaborated with reggae acts.
What’s more, hip hop in the United States was born as, in essence, Jamaican-born DJ Kool Herc had introduced his American friends to rap at that block party dubbed the ‘Back to School Jam’ on August 11, 1973. Apart from DJ Kool Herc, who has since become widely recognized as the ‘Godfather of hip hop’ by way of his presentation of the genre’s rap, turntable mixing and sampling elements, it is noteworthy that major contributors to the hip-hop movement back then were fellow Jamaicans, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio USA pays homage to the trio in an exhibit.
Paying Homage To The Remarkable Life and Musical Legacy Of Dennis Brown:
Dennis Emmanuel Brown certainly had a golden voice and was blessed with a magnificent musical gift. Mr. Brown, who was born on February 1, 1957 and passed on July 1, 1999, left an indelible mark on the landscape of reggae music. During his prolific career which began in the late 1960’s at the age of eleven, Dennis Brown not only recorded more that 75 albums over his career, but was also one of the central pillars of the romantic subgenre of reggae music known as ‘lovers rock’. It would be remiss not to point out that the King of Reggae, Bob Marley, famously cited Dennis Brown as his favorite singer and nicknamed Mr. Brown, the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’.
In paying homage to the remarkable life and musical legacy of Dennis Brown, several artists took to the stage to give their own live performance renditions of some of the ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’s’ most memorable and timeless classics, including ‘Here I Come’, ‘Revolution’, ‘Have You Ever Been In Love’, ‘A Little Bit More’, and ‘Sitting and Watching’.
Freddie ‘Big Ship’ McGregor’s Rendition of Dennis Brown’s Love Has Found Its Way’ Was Wonderful
The reggae world was left in a state of shock and dismay after learning that on, November 26, 2022, the legendary reggae singer, Freddie McGregor, had suffered a stroke in Florida. Freddie has been on the mend ever since and has made remarkable strides in his recovery journey. In 2023, he was able to perform at Reggae Sumest in Montego Bay, Jamaica from a seated position flanked by both his sons, Stephen ‘Di Genius’ and Chino McGregor. The veteran reggae singer and ‘Big Chip’ Captain delivered a tearful and emotional address to his adoring fans at Reggae Sumfest at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay before delivering an impressive set sometime after midnight.
At the Dennis Brown Tribute event, Freddie made a cameo appearance and performance that simply thrilled all who were privilege to witness it. The excitement reached its apex point when Freddie sang ‘Love Has Found Its Way’ alongside Dennis Brown’s daugher, Marla Brown. With natural talent and enviable vocal ability and a career also spanning over 40 years, Mr. McGregor’s timeless vault of his includes: ‘Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely’, ‘To be Poor is a Crime’, ‘Big Ship’, and ‘I was Born a Winner’.
Backed by South Florida Based, Visions Band, Dennis ‘Crown Prince’ Brown’s Daughter, Marla, Delivered a Splendid Performance in Tribute to her Dad
Marla Brown, born in London U.K. to Dennis and wife Yvonne, is the iconic singer’s youngest daughter. She has four siblings who all have their father’s initials in common: Dinah, Daniel, Dennis and Deborah. Dennis spent a lot of time in the City of London, and he created some of his best musical works there while raising his family. Not surprisingly, Marla is not a stranger to the reggae music industry and the live performance stage. As an artist, her debut was made in 2013 at the world-renowned Jazz Cafe in London, where she was the opening act at an event called, “Grooving With The Legends,” Bunny “Striker” Lee’s 46th year Anniversary within the music industry.
At her Dad’s tribute event in Fort Lauderdale, she unleashed a magnificent stage performance that would have surely made Dennis Brown proud. Marla was also joined on stage for a few songs by Freddie McGregor’s son, Chino which garnered a very favored applause from the packed-out Blue Martini venue.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Mykal Rose
The legendary Mykal Rose has been on the ska and reggae music scene for over 25 years. Perhaps his highest profile recognition emerged back in 1984, when he and fellow Black Uhuru band members (Duckie Simpson, Puma Jones, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare) garnered reggae’s inaugural Grammy award for their album, titled: Anthem. Since then, Mykal ‘Grammy’ Rose, as he his often referred to, has had a stellar career as a solo artist. At Blue Martini, Mykal definitely impressed the audience with his distinct singing style and vocal range. And he certainly got some big forwards when he unleashed ‘Police and Thief Inna Shootout’ and ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’.
Photos by Nick Ford
