Entertainment

Howard Campbell, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Though he has been a bass player for over 30 years, Glen Browne is best known for his distinctive acoustic guitar work on Untold Stories, one of the hit songs from Buju Banton's classic 1995 album 'Til Shiloh.

"I didn't expect the song to take off, really, but it was a great communication that hit the mark," Browne told The Sunday Gleaner recently.

When he got the call from Banton's mentor and producer, Donovan Germain, to play on 'Til Shiloh, Browne was already an established musician. He played for years on the north coast circuit, and toured and recorded with high-profile acts like Jimmy Cliff and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Browne, who is a member of singer Tarrus Riley's Blak Soil band, said he has played the song live with Banton a handful of times, the last being in 2008 when the singjay performed on Beres Hammond's A Moment in Time show.

In 2005, when Irish singer Sinead O'Connor recorded Untold Stories for a cover album of reggae songs, Browne reprised his role. He remembered O'Connor breaking down while recording the song, but said the reaction is less emotional when Riley performs it on stage.

"Once the people hear the intro, the people jus' go wild," Browne said.

His studio dates have picked up considerably in the last 20 years, starting with Cliff and the Marleys. He has played on hit songs by Riley and Luciano and collaborated with jazz pianist Monty Alexander on his Marley cover albums and Harlem to Kingston shows.

Musical family

Born in east Kingston, Browne has been playing instruments since his youth. He is the eldest of five brothers who are musicians, the others being guitarists Dalton and Danny, keyboardist Noel, and drummer Cleveland, best known as half of the prolific dancehall duo, Steely and Clevie.

His sons, Richard and Robert, are both musicians.

Recently, Browne has resumed producing songs for his Island Treasure Music company which has two album titles: keyboardist Robbie Lyn's Making Notes, and Size Up by singer Kamau.

Two of his latest projects are by singers Etana and Shereita Lewis. Lewis' cover of Dennis Brown's Love Has Found Its Way is scheduled to be released soon.

Browne said he is frustrated with the monotony of local radio stations.

"It's so hard to get mainstream reggae played on the air," he said. "I was listening to a station the other day playing one 'riddim' for 15 minutes. How can that be justified?"

Browne hopes to release his bass-driven solo album next year.

'I didn't expect the song to take off, really, but it was a great communication that hit the mark.'