Huford Brown (born 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984.
Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Heavily influenced by U-Roy, but also citing Big Youth, Dennis Alcapone, Prince Jazzbo and I-Roy as influences, Brown began his career on the Silver Bullet sound system in the early 1970s, moving on to Sound of Music and replacing U-Roy on the King Tubby's Hi-Fi system in 1975.
Brown was initially given a chance to record by Winston Edwards and then Yabby You, and had a local hit in 1976 with "Starsky and Hutch", which was followed by a series of albums produced by Bunny Lee. He was signed to Virgin Records in the late 1970s, releasing two albums on their Front Line label. The Virgin contract enabled Brown to travel frequently to the United Kingdom, where he performed with the Unity Hi Power sound system. Brown returned to prominence in 1982, with "Tu Sheng Peng" (a version of Dennis Brown's "If This World Were Mine").
(Read more at Wikipedia.)
Links to Peel[]
In July 1998, U Brown was on a bill of reggae artists chosen by Peel for the Meltdown festival he curated at London's Southbank Centre. The night's lineup was headed by Culture.
The DJ played Brown down the decades from the late 70s, including vintage material from compilations from Blood & Fire and other reissues in later years. In 2001, the artist twice featured in his monthly Peel's Record Box selections for the BBC website.
In 1982, Peel session artists Musical Youth had an international hit with 'Pass The Dutchie', which combined 'Gimme the Music' by U Brown and 'Pass the Kouchie' by Mighty Diamonds.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
- None
Other Shows Played[]
- 1970s
- 23 January 1978 (with Chantells): Children Of Jah (12") Phase One
- 14 August 1979 (with Gregory Isaacs): The Border (12" single) GG's
- 1980s
- 29 July 1982: Ravers Party (LP - Ravers Party) Trojan
- 05 January 1983 (BFBS): Me Chat You Rock (unknown release) Trojan
- 23 January 1983 (BFBS): You Better Rock (7") Power Force
- 01 August 1983: unknown
- 03 August 1983: Get Ready Skank Steady (LP - Jam It Tonight) CSA
- 24 August 1983: Lucky Girl (split 7" with Johnny Clarke - Happy Go Lucky Girl / Lucky Girl) Weed Beat
- 12 February 1985: It's Time to Unite
- 03 September 1986: Love Is All I Have (7") Ossie Sound
- 1990s
- 08 August 1990: Jam It Tonight (LP-Jam It Tonight) CSA
- 06 January 1995: Weather Balloon (7 inch) Sampalue
- 14 January 1995 (BFBS): Weather Balloon (7") Hit Sound
- 22 October 1997: Watch This People (LP - Train To Zion (1975-1978)) Blood & Fire
- 23 October 1997 (BFBS): The Big Licking Stick (CD-Train To Zion (1975-1978)) Blood & Fire
- 04 August 1999 (& Chantells): Children Of Jah / Time To Unite (v/a CD - Children Of Jah (1977 – 1979)) Blood & Fire
- 2000s
- June 2001 (FSK): Baby Let Me Rock You (CD - Repatriation) Patate
- 14 August 2001: President In Dub (LP - Repatriation) Patate
- 28 August 2001: Fire Burn (7") Roots Foundation
- 10 October 2001: No More Tribal War (LP - Repatriation) Hit Sound
- 18 October 2001: Down Ina Babylon (7” single) Roots Foundation
- 23 October 2001: Kawasaki Dub (LP – Repatriation) Patate
See Also[]
- August 2001 (Peel's Record Box): Fire Burn (Roots Foundation) (single)
- October 2001 (Peel's Record Box): Repatriation' (Patate) (album)
- Gregory Isaacs
- Cover Versions
- Reggae Compilations
- Revolutionaries
- Blood & Fire
- Meltdown
External Links[]