Gregory Isaacs, Frankie Paul, Dennis Brown Are ‘Legends, Gone But Not Forgotten’

Reggae Powerhouse record label has presented a warm and familiar stroll down memory lane with the recently released Tribute To The Legends, Gone But Not Forgotten compilation album, under the stewardship of renowned music producer Leroy Scarlett.

Scarlett describes the project as a body of work that is meant to celebrate the trio of veteran Reggae singers, the producer’s mentors and “brothers,” Gregory Isaacs, Frankie Paul, and Dennis Brown. The 12-track album represents a partial collection of music on which the producer collaborated with three of Jamaica’s most iconic musical figures who are now deceased.

The disc is effectively divided into three acts, with each singer spotlighting a third. The tribute album kicks off on a high note, with the Cool Ruler himself, late Jamaican icon Gregory Isaacs. The beloved Night Nurse performer’s signature nasal vocal modulation, as expected, brings on the nostalgia with the singles Once I Was Lonely, Lonely Teardrops, Spend The Night and The Next 45 Minutes.

Scarlett explains that the impetus of the release is to ensure that Reggae music’s foundation acts occupy space and remain relevant in an ever-evolving industry. The music producer hopes that the Tribute To The Legends, Gone But Not Forgotten album is an initial step towards introducing the youth to the discography of the founding fathers and mothers of Jamaica’s globally recognized classic genres.

The middle third of the compilation album easily holds up its end of the bargain, by flaunting the R&B-influenced cadence of the incomparable Frankie Paul in the thick of the producer’s legendary Reggae music platter. The Sara balladeer, who passed away nearly four years ago, led his segment with his wildly popular version of US all-girl duo Zhané’s early-90s hit single Hey Mr. DJ. The artist, oft styled as the Jamaican Stevie Wonder, continued to feature with two mixes of the single Let Me Come Inside, and Soon As I Get Home.

According to Scarlett – who, decades ago, began his journey to acquaint himself with the nuances of popular music by insinuating himself into sound system culture before he was a tween – shared that he chose a mix of tracks from the artists’ favorites vaults, as well as exclusive gems, for the tribute project.

Scarlett recalled being an up-and-comer, drawing inspiration from witnessing Grammy award-winning production behemoths Sly & Robbie at work. As fate would have it, the producer would end up recording his first single, as a performer, for the Riddim Twins. Eventually, he would also find his way into the producer chair to take the lead on Frankie Paul’s One Little Romance and Gregory Isaacs’ Lonely Teardrops in 1993 for Reality Records.

The final third of the project presents, arguably, Jamaica’s most prolific singer-songwriter, child star-turned-Crown Prince of Reggae, the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown, CD. The music of the crooner with the swoon-inducing discography, who past away in 1999, helped to close the curtains on the compilation album with a quad-pack of timeless outros. The silky smooth vocals of the Silhouettes performer befittingly completes Scarlett’s legendary tribute project with Cupid, If You Want My Love, Is It Me You Love and Take A Stand.

Along with the Isaacs, Paul and Brown, artists Glen Washington, Luciano, Anthony B, Sizzla and Beres Hammond are a few of the other industry heavyweights who the producer previously worked with.

Scarlett’s Tribute To The Legends Gone But Not Forgotten album is distributed by Tuff Gong International and available for download and streaming across all the popular music platforms.