Jackie Brown possesses one of the most identifiable and unique voices to have graced the Jamaican music scene. His string of 1970s chart-topping hits precedes him. One just needs to mention his hits and eyes open wide in excitement. Born Linton Brown in the famous parish of Portland, his singing career like most luminaries started in church where he joined the choir at age 7. Inevitably, a professional singing career came later and in 1972 he scored his first hit "One Night Of Sin" for Sonia Pottinger's Tip Top label. The song spent an unprecedented 18 weeks at number one and over six months on the charts. This was Jackie's indelible mark on Jamaican Music and a harbinger of things to come. A tour of England followed and on his return to Jamaica Jackie delivered his next number one hit "Country Gal" for the Tip Top label. This quick succession of hits was Jackie's signal that the music industry was his destiny, he quickly quit his position as a Corrections officer and dove head on into the music business.
The music scene was now his domain, he followed soon with "Living In Sweet Jamaica" for the Prince Tony label, which went to number two on the charts. Encouraged by the success he had brought to the record labels for which he recorded, Jackie started his own production and released what has become one of reggae's most treasured anthems "Jah Jah Children Never Born To Suffer" (a.k.a. Feel No Pain). The single sold over 70,000 copies in Jamaica while maintaining it's position in the top of the charts for over 6 months. The record labels and producers came knocking and in 1976 he answered the call of Joe Gibbs for whom he did the first and most memorable reggae cover of "Send Me The Pillow" which became a massive worldwide hit for the Joe Gibbs label.
There was no stopping to Jackie's hit parade, his next outing was the self-produced mega-hit "Little Miss Hard To Get", which entered the charts at number eleven and quickly shot to number one. The song spent 12 weeks at number one and 5 to 6 months on the chart. The world was now yearning to see Jackie live and he answered the call with a tour of the Caribbean where his hits were in permanent rotation on the radio stations. During the tour he recorded the song "Blue" for a producer in Barbados, by the time he returned to Jamaica the song had reached number one in Barbados, this sparked a follow-up tour of Barbados, replete with full press, TV and radio coverage.
By this time Jackie had become an icon of reggae & Jamaican music, he became a much sought after performer on the tourist hotel circuit of Jamaica and on the island of Grand Cayman. His schedule was packed month after month as he performed and toured with the likes of Byron Lee, Sonny Bradshaw, Fab Five, Inner Circle, Third World & The Sagittarius Band.
Jackie soon realized that he had a very important role to play in the further development of reggae music and became heavily involved in exposing new talent. It was through his role as talent coordinator and MC at the Bohemia Club & Jaguar Lounge that artists like Barrington Levy, Mighty Diamonds, Yellowman, George Nooks and Ranking Joe were given some of their first opportunities to showcase their talent. Jackie, while continuously recording and releasing successful singles, also became a very respected and renown promoter of the "Rock Seventies" shows, which ran between 1974 & 1979, providing steady work for reggae artists around the entire island. Towards the end of that period Jackie entered and finished in the top 3 of the 1979 popular festival song competition with a song entitled "One One Cocoa". Among his contemporaries to whom Jackie gives credit in mentoring and assisting him through his early career are Toots, Alton Ellis and Hopeton Lewis.
Following his successful 1970s reign, Jackie began to set his sights on migrating and in 1981 took up residence in the USA. From this new base Jackie has brought his music, through his live performances, to Canada, Brazil, England and back to the Caribbean. In his first Brazilian tour in 2000, Jackie was "blown away" when he appeared to sold out shows of starving fans that grew up on his hits of the 70s (still receiving wide airplay in Brazil). As the headline act Jackie pulled in 20,000 to 25,000 fans at each venue. During the tour Jackie received the keys to the cities of Codoe & Marioung from their respective mayors. Since then Jackie has returned to Brazil each year to perform to sold out venues.
A bright future lies ahead for Jackie as he gets ready to release 2 albums in 2003, "I still Love You" and "The Melody Of Jackie Brown: 20 Super Hits". This seasoned performer is full of vigor and ready to take his music to the rest of the world.
SELECTIVE DISCOGRAPHY :
Albums:
- Lovers Gold
- Send Me The Pillow
- Two Superstars (with Jimmy London)
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