The Civil Rights movement in the United States during the 1960s sparked a global wave of black consciousness, especially among young people. In Jamaica, Leroy Brown followed the Back to Africa crusade, led by militant Rastafarians.
On his latest song, Africa Is Calling, the veteran singer retains his passion for black awareness and the Motherland. It is scheduled for release in early January.
“In Trench Town, my neighbors were all Rastas…it was a common talk that repatriation is a must in the early ’70s. Now lots of people are getting ready to go to Africa and this inspired me to write the next chapter,” said Brown, who co-produced Africa Is Calling with Winston Dias, his longtime friend.
The song, which has a West African feel, features Sly Dunbar on drums, Glen Browne on bass, Paul “Wrongmove” Crosdale on keyboards, and trumpeter Vivian Scott.
After leaving Trench Town in the late 1960s, Brown settled in eastern Kingston where there was also a vibrant Rasta community.
There, he became a member of two talented groups, The Emotions and Hippy Boys, which at various times had the future Wailers rhythm section of Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Carlton Barrett as members. Bassist Robbie Shakespeare, singer Audley Rollen and drummer Benbow Creary, were also part of that setup.
In the early 1970s, Brown migrated to Toronto, Canada and became part of that region’s burgeoning reggae scene.
Twenty years ago, he won Canada’s Juno Award for Reggae Recording of The Year with Rent A Tile.
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