Fitz Albert Cotterell (born c. 1965), better known as Prezident Brown, is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall vocalist
Prezident Brown | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Fitz Albert Cotterell |
| Also known as | Junior |
| Born | c. 1965 |
| Origin | Clarendon, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Recording Artist, Singjay/Chant |
| Instrument | Vocal |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Website | prezidentbrownmusic.com |
Biography
editFitz Albert Cotterell was born in Johnny's Hill district on the Bullhead Mountain, Jamaica in the mid-1960s and raised in Oracabessa, St. Mary.[1][2] He built up a reputation by performing on local sound systems throughout the 1980s, under various names including Junior Ranking,[3] before starting his recording career in the late 1980s.[4] He was given the name Prezident Brown by producer and sound system operator Jack Ruby, who made him the resident deejay on his Hi-Power sound system.[3] Early singles included "Tears" and "Everything is Right" (with Jack Radics) and (Professor Frisky)and all time Jamaican favourite song "Mickey Mouse" on the DigitalB label.[4] His lyrics concentrate on "cultural" themes.[5] He broke through to a wider audience with performances in 1995 at the Reggae Sumfest and Reggae Sunsplash festivals.[4] He recorded the anti-drugs song "Blow Your Nose" with Everton Blender, and "Wrong or Right", which received international daytime radio play.[4] He was also featured on "Black and Proud" on the Steel Pulse album Rage and Fury.[3] He collaborated with Anthony Red Rose and Anthony Malvo on "Red Alert", which topped the Jamaican singles chart, and his continuing success saw him sign to Chris Blackwell's Island Jamaica label, although an album recorded for the label was never released.[1][4]
He toured the United States in 2002, playing 46 shows including an appearance at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and toured the US again in 2009.[6]
In 2012 he released the album I Sound Is From Creation and again toured the US, in 2013 Prezident Brown will tour Europe[2]
Discography
edit- Big Bad and Talented (1995), X Rated/Runn Records
- Original Blue Print (1996), Digital B
- Prezident Selection (1996), Runn Records
- To Jah Only (Praying for the World) (1999), Kariang
- Showcase Volume One, Jahmani
- Showcase Volume Two, Jahmani
- Showcase Volume Three-Prepare Ye the Way, (2003) Jahmani
- Generation Next (2003)Chet/Sony
- Showcase Volume Four-Health And Strength (2007), Muzik Ave.
- Common Prosperity (2009), Tomorrow's Children
- I Sound Is From Creation (2012), Tad's
- The Journeyman Ep (2015), Tower Production
References
edit- ^ a b Campbell, Howard (2009) "Prosperous times for Prezident Brown Archived 20 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Gleaner, 16 August 2009, retrieved 12 September 2009
- ^ a b Campbell, Howard (2012) "Prezident Brown for US tour dates", Jamaica Observer, 7 August 2012, retrieved 7 August 2012
- ^ a b c "P. Brown in town", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11 February 2005, retrieved 12 September 2009
- ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 43-44
- ^ Tanzilo, Bobby (2002) "The Prezident makes his first Milwaukee visit", OnMilwaukee.com, 13 July 2002, retrieved 12 September 2009
- ^ "Prezident Brown - Common Prosperity Tour - Reggae Rising - Eugene Celebration - Monterey Bay Reggaefest - July - August, 2009 Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine", jamaicans.com, 29 July 2009, retrieved 12 September 2009