by: Debbie Allen
Hollywood, FL – Music legend, Dennis Emanuel Brown, O.D. is now permanently honored in London, Sydney and Hollywood, Florida at Hard Rocks 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, O.D.
In the spirit of “One Love,” Doris Osceola, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, donated these 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 Dennis, they asked Entertainment Consultant Debbie Allen to collaborate with the Hard Rock and before they knew it a third Dennis Brown display was confirmed.
Thanks to the generosity of singer songwriter son Daniel Brown and family donating one of Dennis’s acoustic guitars, it is now on display in the lobby of The Vault in London’s famed Hyde Park corner. The Vault is in fact where the 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 his dedication for his Dad’s guitar Daniel Brown wrote “This guitar was used to create a lot of our fathers’ works over the years, a number of which have become classics to this day.”
Dennis Emanuel Brown (February 1, 1957 – July 1, 1999) was a prolific Jamaican reggae singer. His career began in the late 1960s when he was a boy of eleven, 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,” citing Brown as his favorite 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 & Hate,” “Should I,” “Revolution” “Love Has Found it’s 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 & Nas featuring Dennis Brown. New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff in 2010, described him “as one of the greatest singers of the last half century.” His homeland of Jamaica will bestow the posthumous honor of the “Order of Distinction; O.D.” on National Hero’s day in Kingston Jamaica on Oct. 17, 2011. This prestigious honor is bestowed on Citizens of Jamaica who have rendered outstanding and important service to Jamaica.
L-R: Sandra A. Grant-Griffiths – Consul General of Jamaica @ Miami, Marlon Farquharson – cousin of Dennis Brown of Vsions Band, Doris Osceola-Seminole Tribe of Florida-Donor & Event Host, Debbie Allen – Event Coordinator Entertainment Consultant in front of the Dennis Emanuel Brown, O.D. exhibit on permanent display in the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood minutes after unveiling the case!!
Photo Credit: Don Parchment
Close to 5 years ago The Seminole Tribe of Florida purchased the Hard Rock cafe, hotel and casino business in a first-of-its-kind deal between the Native American tribe and Hard Rock’s English parent company. At the press conference on Dec. 22, 2006 in Manhattan’s Times Square Hard Rock Cafe location Max Osceola Jr., Seminole Tribe Councilman joked: “Our ancestors sold Manhattan for trinkets. Today with the acquisition of the Hard Rock cafes we’re going to buy Manhattan back one hamburger at a time.”
L-R: Doris Osceola-Seminole Tribe of Florida-Donor & Event Host, Marlon Farquharson – cousin of Dennis Brown of Vsions Band, and Debbie Allen – Event Coordinator Entertainment Consultant cutting the Custom cake with Dennis Brown singing live at Sunsplash Jamaica taken by Doris Osceola.
Photo Credit: Don Parchment
Doris Osceola was aiming to get Dennis a place of honor at her local Seminole 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 feel like he had been given the honors and respect she knew he so deserved. Doris wanted to see a memento to Dennis 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 Doris’s vision grew to include Dennis Brown on permanent display in London and Sydney. More than she had even imagined, Doris says “I hope that people will enjoy Dennis’s exhibits and his music as much as I do.”
Doris recalls a time in 1986 that she, Dennis and Stella McLaughlan (Ghetto Youths International) enjoyed lunch at the Hard Rock in London, one of more than a handful of Hard Rock cafes at the time. As Dennis sang “No Man Is An Island” and thanks to the Hard Rocks his legacy continues! The Hard Rocks motto of “Love All Serve All” goes hand in hand with the reggae mantra of “One Love” honoring many of the worlds’ greatest musicians 24/7.
Scenes from Unveiling of the Dennis Emanuel Brown O.D., permanent exhibit at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL
L-R: Sheena Spirit – Reggae Singer & writer, Sandra A. Grant-Griffiths – Consul General of Jamaica @ Miami, Doris Osceola-Seminole Tribe of Florida-Donor & Event Host, Debbie Allen – Event Coordinator Entertainment Consultant.
Photo Credit: Don Parchment
L-R: Dale Holeness-Broward County Commissioner, Doris Osceola-Seminole Tribe of Florida-Donor & Event Host, Sandra A. Grant-Griffiths – Consul General of Jamaica @ Miami, Debbie Allen – Event Coordinator Entertainment Consultant
Photo Credit: Don Parchment
L-R: Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele from Nigeria from the Aderele Royal Family, Eddy Edwards – Ridims Marketing, Doris Osceola-Seminole Tribe of Florida-Donor & Event Host, Debbie Allen – Event Coordinator Entertainment Consultant, Sheena Spirit – Reggae Singer & writer, & Chief Nathaniel Styles – Osun’s Villlage Miami.
Photo Credit: Suki Finnerty
Debbie Allen is an Entertainment Consultant and writer based in Hollywood, FL. She coordinated the arrangements with the Hard Rock for Doris Osceola and Dennis’ son Daniel Brown. [email protected] 954-562-2135
