Brown
Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter
READY FOR The World is the apt title of Joel 'Bunny' Brown's first solo album.
After twenty odd years as the lead singer for the group The Chosen Few, he has finally gone out on his own for a Studio One produced effort.
For years, Bunny Brown has blended his voice with the group to create several recordings, and has been involved with them for more than a decade of consistent European touring.
Interestingly, he got his start at Studio One as a young apprentice, but moved to Derrick Harriott's camp in the late 1960s to link with The Chosen Few.
He then returned to Studio One godfather, Clement 'Sir Coxone' Dodd and recorded Break Your Promise, a popular hit at the time.
The group was known for its excellent cover versions of tunes like Shaft, Queen Majesty and others. With these and an arsenal of other tunes, they have managed extensive touring of the United States of America, Switzerland and England, among a lengthy list of other european countries.
Brown, however, felt that it was time to return to his true roots. He has returned to Jamaica and Studio One. Coming home before creating the album he says, was very significant in terms of the music.
"I wanted to come back home. You see, here is the root of reggae, but you just have many branches," he explains. "Jamaica to me, is the most influential country in the world. People have our culture packaged in other areas of the world and they are selling it. Everything we choose we are good at it, so we have tremendous clout as a nation."
Like many of the artistes from his era, Brown has issues with the state of today's music business in Jamaica, but he prefers to not let them get him bitter. He feels that although dancehall music is fine, enough emphasis is not placed on the music from his time.
"Reggae is like the root and from this root dancehall is just one branch. What I have found is that they are nurturing just one part of the tree. You can't water the branch and leave out the tree," he reasons.
"I have nothing against dancehall. I feel that everyone has their own talent. I believe, however, that you should use your talent to uplift people and change their feelings for the good," Brown said.
This, he says, along with other reasons, was his motivation to write quality songs for his album. "I feel that artistes should take the time to write good songs. When you write good lyrics people will remember you for years to come, even when you are passed and gone," he reasons.
Although solo, Brown says that if The Chosen Few ever needs him he will be available, but for now he is trying to pick up his career on a personal level.
