ESTABLISHED in year 2000, the Dennis Emanuel Brown Trust promotes the life and works of reggae’s Crown Prince.

The trust organises and finances charitable causes as a means of perpetuating the legacy of the late singer, who died in July 1999.

The trust awards high school scholarships to students attending Central Branch All-Age School annually.

They also stage an annual concert in tribute to Dennis Brown on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February (Reggae Month).

Dennis Brown did not attend a high school, however, his lifelong aspiration was to assist children in getting this opportunity.

He attended Central Branch and the trust’s members thought it appropriate to honour his alma mater while carrying out his objective.

In 2001, of the four children given scholarships, two matriculated to university level seven years later. From 2002-10, the trust provided five scholarships per year for a total of 49 scholarships, again facilitating matriculation to university. Included in this group is Fredrick Dacres, who is currently World Junior Discuss Champion.

The trust sponsors an annual award at The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, for the Honour student of the degree programme, who has attained the highest mark in music and education.

From 2004-2011,The Dennis Brown Trust in association with Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAAVA) staged an annual concert series to raise funds for scholarships.

In 2009, the Trust was joined by Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Leggo Records and Sounds and Pressure. They established the current annual Dennis Brown Concert on Orange Street; symbolically at Big Yard where the singer grew up. From the outset, this concert was given tremendous support by Beres Hammond, Freddy McGregor — then JaRIA chairman, Lloyd Parks and We the People Band, as well as a long roster of performers from the music fraternity. The primary objective was to assist in the movement for the positioning of downtown Kingston as an attraction for visitors from around the world, to come each year to absorb the culture of the people from downtown Kingston, where the music industry was born in the 1950s.

The concert was immediately endorsed and given tremendous support by residents and business people in the surrounding communities. It satisfied their yearning to see Jamaica’s popular artistes performing live. For some, this was the only opportunity to see them perform, because they live mostly in garrison communities. Over the four years, the attendance has grown to approximately 10,000 patrons.

For that reason, a decision was taken to move the concert to King Street. Long term however, this would necessitate moving to an even larger venue, with less security concerns than obtains at King Street.

As such, with the support and advice of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, this year the Dennis Brown Concert will be staged on Sunday, March 17, on the Kingston Waterfront/Ocean Boulevard.

It is scheduled to start at 5 pm and end at midnight with approximately 30 acts including Beres Hammond, Freddy McGregor, Tarrus Riley, Richie Stephens, Mighty Diamonds, Big Youth, Errol Dunkley, Junior Reid, Carl Dawkins, Iba Mahr, Lloyd Parks & We the People and hopefully, a very special surprise guest artiste.

Email:che.campbell@gmail.com