THE spirit of Dennis Brown strolled the Kingston Waterfront last Sunday, where artistes and fans gathered to pay tribute to the Crown Prince of Reggae.

A joint production between Brown's close friend, music producer Trevor 'Leggo' Douglas and the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, the event was initially scheduled for early February to mark the 56th anniversary of Brown's birth.

It was postponed on three occasions due to insufficient sponsorship and gang violence in Central Kingston.

On Sunday, a full cast of artistes turned out to salute Brown who died in July, 1999. They included Toots Hibbert, Beres Hammond, Richie Stephens, Winston 'Niney' Holness, Ras Michael and the Inna De Yard Crew, Carl Dawkins, Big Youth, Dalton Browne and Jah Cure.

Douglas was pleased with the performances and turnout.

"Everybody was pleased, Dennis was a man of the people an' it was good to si the people come out an' return that love," he said.

Douglas told the Jamaica Observer that the Kingston Waterfront will be the new home for the show which was previously held in the Orange Street area of west Kingston where Brown was raised.

Brown first recorded as an 11 year-old for producer Derrick Harriott, but made his mark in the 1970s and 1980s with a flurry of roots and lovers rock hit songs including Westbound Train, Whip Them Jah, Should I, Sitting and Watching and Inseparable.