More honours showered on reggae's Crown Prince

Music legend Dennis Emanuel Brown, OD, is now permanently honoured in London, Sydney and Hollywood, Florida at Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos in all three cities.

The 40-year-old Hard Rock brand is known worldwide for delivering great hamburgers, great times and an extensive, priceless rock 'n' roll memorabilia collection. Rockin' in over 150 locations, in more than 50 countries, this home of rock 'n' roll legends embraces reggae music and it's Crown Prince Dennis Emanuel Brown, OD.

Doris Osceola, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, donated Dennis Brown pieces for the Sydney and Hollywood, Florida locations. At the personal recommendation of her close friend reggae singer Sheena Spirit, who worked as well as performed with Brown, Osceola asked entertainment consultant, Debbie Allen, to collaborate with Hard Rock.

Thanks to the generosity of singer/songwriter Daniel Brown and family, who donated one of Dennis Brown's acoustic guitars, it is now on display in the lobby of The Vault in London's famed Hyde Park Corner.

Valued treasures

The Vault, is in fact, where Hard Rock keeps it's most valued treasures. Appropriately enough, the building was once where the queens of England sent their treasures for safe keeping, when it was the old Coutts Bank.

In dedicating his father's guitar Daniel Brown wrote, "This guitar was used to create a lot of our father's works over the years, a number of which have become classics today."

Dennis Emanuel Brown's (February 1, 1957 - July 1, 1999) career began in the late 1960s when he was a boy of 11. He went on to record over 75 albums and was one of the major stars of the sweet, hip-swaying lovers rock style of reggae music. It was Bob Marley himself that dubbed Dennis "The Crown Prince of Reggae," calling Brown his favourite singer. Dennis Brown continues to be hugely influential on generations of reggae singers. Timeless hits like No Man Is An Island, Money In My Pocket, Love And Hate, Should I, Revolution, Love Has Found Its Way, and How Could I Leave play on as his body of work contains numerous classic testaments to the heart and soul of reggae music.

His hit, The Promised Land, was reworked and released in 2010 by Damian Marley and Nas featuring Dennis Brown. The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff, in 2010, described him "as one of the greatest singers of the last half century."

Osceola had initially aimed to get Dennis Brown a place of honour at her Hard Rock Hollywood location. After suffering a stroke herself, she counted that it had been 10 years since her friend Dennis Brown had passed, and she did not think he had been given the honour and respect she knew he deserved.

Osceola wanted to see a memento to Brown on public display that she and her family and friends could visit. Her idea was greeted with enthusiasm by the Hard Rock decision makers, and her vision grew to include Dennis Brown on permanent display in London and Sydney.

"I hope that people will enjoy Dennis's exhibits and his music as much as I do," Osceola said.

Debbie Allen is an Entertainment Consultant and writer based in Hollywood, FL. reggaerhythmsnow@aol.com 954-562-2135