Prezident Brown, born Fitz Albert Cotterell, has been called, “one of the most interesting cultural dee-jays since U Roy”. Emphasizing positive messages, Prezident Brown has continued to pioneer his own direction, developing his own approach to dee-jaying that he calls, “The chanting stylee”. Born to a Seventh Day Adventist family in Colonel Ridge, Clarendon, Prezident Brown grew up in the small town of Oracabessa in the Parish of St. Mary, Jamaica.

He was forced to leave school at a young age when his father died leaving him with his mother and three sisters. Prezident Brown launched his musical career at the age of fourteen, when he began dee-jaying for the Sound King Stereo Mix at the Bamboo Lounge. Initially known as Junior Ranking, Prezident Brown was dubbed, “Slim Brown”, by dee-jay Nicodemus. When he recorded his debut single in 1988 Prezident Brown was named, “Dancehall Doctor”. The late Jack Ruby, producer of Burning Spear’s albums, “Marcus Garvey”, and, “Man In The Hills”, bestowed the title, “Prezident”, upon him.

In 1989, he joined Courtney Cole’s label, Roof International, and began performing and dee-jaying at the Rooftop Club in Ocho Rios. In 1990, Prezident Brown became involved with producers Barry O’Hare and Steven Stewart at Grove Music in Ocho Rios. It was Barry O’Hare’s X-Rated Record label that became Prezident Brown’s home base and it was X-Rated Records with Runn Records that launched his career in Europe. In Jamaica the X-Rated label took off as a massive roots revival swept across the country paving the way for Prezident Brown’s conscious style of reggae dee-jaying. In 1999 the Jamaican record label Kariang released the timeless, “To Jah Only” album. In 2002, Jahmani Productions released a 2 CD disc called, “Showcase Volume 1”.

The 46 show tour that followed that release took Prezident Brown across the United States and included performances at The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and Reggae On The River. Jahmani Productions then released “Showcase Volume 2”, and “Showcase Volume 3” which includes a live performance from the 2002 Mt. Shasta Renegade Music Festival. In 2004 the German based label Chet Records with Sony Records released the album, “Generation Next”. Prezident Brown’s most current release is entitled, “Showcase Volume 4 Health and Strength”. Prezident Brown now lives in Ocho Rios, in the Parish St. Ann, Jamaica.

EMMANUEL SELASSIE
Emmanuel Selassie and The Singers and Players of Instruments is a Rastafarian Roots Reggae band from Santa Cruz, California. Playing all original music selected from several albums that have been released over the past 27 years the band delivers a high energy performance with a different set list each show.