Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Gospel producer Danny Browne says, "I had built my empire which I was quite comfortable with, but I was not humble like the little children." - Contributed

Like the rich young ruler, Danny Browne built himself an empire but found it was still easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

In the 1990s Browne was producing secular music, his Main Street label doing very well with Goofy, General Degree and Red Rat, among others, but he was not at ease with where he was in his life and chose to suffer affliction for a while to make things right. Today Browne is one of, if not the best, gospel music producers in Jamaica. "The greatest tragedy is to be alive and don't know why. A lot of people are like that today," Browne said. "Now that I am doing something for the kingdom, it is a feeling that cannot be described."

Browne's music career started in the late 1960s when he and his brothers formed a singing group called the Browne Bunch. The five brothers became known as a replica of the Jackson Five, but that was only the start for Danny Browne as his aptitude for playing the guitar opened further doors. He went on to play in a few bands, such as the Mighty Titans, Bloodfire Posse and the Caribs.

He went on to play for Yellowman, Judy Mowatt and Freddie McGreggor, among others, earning the title of 'The man with the rugged bassline'.

Bloodfire Posse was signed to Colombia Records and the band recorded Rub-A-Dub Soldier, which Browne said was the first Jamaican song to top all the international reggae charts. At this time, the band spent most of their time in England, but in a bitter-sweet turn of events Bloodfire split in 1987 after almost five years together. Browne went on to work with Atlantic Records on Lieutenant Stitchie's Dress To Impress, which in turn gave birth to his producing career as Stitchie urged Browne to start his own label.

Main Street was formed and Browne became the man with the golden touch. "Now looking back, I think the Lord had his hand in everything I did. Everything I touched became successful," Browne said. Browne produced Songs such as She's Mine by Barrington Levy, Rumours by Gregory Isaacs and J.C. Lodge's Telephone Love. The expectations were growing and Browne had to keep raising his standards. Some of the more memorable projects included Papa San's reflective chant Strange Things, Mr. Vegas' witty Heads High and Garnet Silk's Oh Me Oh My, but one of his main working relationships came with General Degree. The bond between the two was close to being father and son, but even that would soon be interrupted.

Around 1997 Browne started going to church with his family, but without much expectations. However, one particular sermon struck Browne. The preacher spoke from Matthew 18:1-4: "The disciples asked Jesus, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' To that the Lord replied, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven'."

"I had built my empire, which I was quite comfortable with, but I was not humble like the little children. I did not want to miss the kingdom of heaven," he said.

Browne was now at a crossroads in his life. He had a buoyant career producing secular music, but had discovered perhaps the one thing that was missing from his life. It was clear what he had to do, but that did not make the decision any easier. He had developed a good working relationship with the artistes and found it difficult to tell them he could no longer work with them. "I didn't want to be the hypocrite. I was making music that I was hiding from my own children but was showing it to other people's children. Now, I am not ashamed," he said.

Though it was hard, Browne parted ways with his secular artistes after their contracts ran out.

Miracle after miracle

The most difficult period was in front of him as the bills began to pile up. Browne took about two years in relative seclusion to learn as much as he could about the Lord. "If I did not know Christ for myself I could easily have turned back. The spirit of God kept me with miracle after miracle," he said.

He made it through the worst and is now getting to exactly where the Lord wants him to be. "There came time for me to go do what I was sent here to do. The Lord prepared me for a time like this to evangelise," Browne said.

Since his redemption, Browne has been doing just that through a plethora of reggae gospel artistes who got their start with him. Perhaps the biggest names are Radikal Prodigal, Moses and DJ Nicholas. Still, he has been flooded with criticism for his style of music but he is not worried. He said it is his mandate from the Lord to reach some of the people who are most disconnected from the church and it is for that reason he has no qualms about gospel artistes going to secular stage shows to minister.

Besides, he considers most of his critics bench warmers who do nothing but complain.

Gospel music is, however, not where he would want it to be. Christians, he said, are not supporting it as much as they can. Instead, music piracy is still very rampant. He would also like to see radio and television stations give gospel songs the same amount of airplay as secular songs.

In the meantime, Browne continues to strive for excellence in his work. He is satisfied he is doing the right thing. And if he should fail at producing, he said he would rejoice, as it would be the will of the Lord.