12/10/2009

Engineer Errol Brown reflects on 'small' victories

Sound Engineer Errol Brown boasts over 30 years of accolades on his resumé, and although his highest moments in the music admittedly may be already gone, he has been seeing some personal dreams coming forth.

Argued as one of the best sound engineers coming out of Jamaica, he has already earned an Emmy Award nomination to his credit, scores of hits with recordings from acts such as The Sensations, Marcia Griffiths, Peter Tosh, U-Roy, Culture, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Rita Marley, Burning Spear and others, plus work on several live shows for Shaggy on the international circuit.

ENVIABLE MILESTONES

Brown has begun work with the EMG Music group, which is headed by Producer Mikey Bennett and based in Vineyard Town Kingston.

"Mikey Bennett is my long time brethren. We did a lot of work at Tuff Gong. He has his own studio now, with the nice setting, nice surroundings, everything you need to give you a creative vibe for the music," he stated in an interview recently.

From there, Brown will help to create smash hits from the group of artistes presently working under the EMG Label.

Brown stands firm in the music business, and has achieved enviable milestones. He has, however, won some small personal victories too, one of which is making the transition from the old analogue way of recording music, to the digital revolution presently in operation.

As a man who was trained at the Treasure Isle Studios by his uncle Duke Reid and others, he reflected the era of the analogue machines. Many of his colleagues today still prefer the pounding beat of an old analogue board, and although he has nothing against it, he feels that times have changed.

"Well yu know that everything gone pro-tools now, so no more analogue. I think it's a plus for the music business. People can't believe I am saying this but this protools system here, its like you can do anything with the music," he stated.

"You can do anything with the music. It can make a mix perfect. You can go back to a piece of music and not have to worry if the EQ shift or anything like that because it is stored. Matter of fact is that because I spend so much time in the business I really love pro-tools."

OTHERS ACHIEVING

Another small personal victory he scored, was to see people he had worked with achieve so much in their different spheres based on their drive and training.

"I did a lot of training in my years gone by, with people like Tony Kelly, Dave Kelly, my son Shane Brown who is in the business now. It's good to see them now, It's like to see these young people getting in control is good, yu feel good, cause sometime ago I was worried about the music."

With the present team, Brown hopes he will see a few more 'small' victories before him. He said he did not think any moment could beat those spent touring and working with Bob Marley in the 1970s, but the smaller victories are fulfilling nonetheless.

by Germaine Smith for Jamaica Gleaner 3/30/2005

Errol Brown @ Natty Dread Magazine #58

12/20/2009

Father, son music bound [10/21/2007]

12/11/2009

Videos & Photos: Julian Marley in Cologne, Germany 12/6/2009

12/08/2009