Linsford "Hux" Brown is "THE" master guitarist from Jamaica. He developed a muted-string style of guitar playing that made it seem as if his strings were made of rubber, a style which continues to be immitated by virtually every Jamaican guitarist to follow him.

It is amazing that any music at all was created in Jamaica, let alone the earth-shaking music known as Reggae that has truly become a "World Music". Hux's story is the story of modern Jamaican music. When Hux was coming up as a musician, Jamaica had no nightclubs for locals. The only bands played Jazz and Calypso for tourists in hotel bars. The instruments were owned by the hotels, as they were far beyond the buying power of musicians, and could be used by the musicians only so long as it suited the hotel owners and managers.

Blue Beat, Rock Steady, and later Reggae metamorphisized in after-hours jam sessions in the hotel bars. A few prescient entrepreneurs recognised the potential and began recording this music that was never played before an audience! The most common way to disseminate music to the people was via mobile sound systems that would set-up in various areas of Kingston and broadcast the latest single releases to the crowd of dancers that formed. Eventually, the music made its way to Jamaican radio.

The man who really nurtured Jamaican music was the legendary Leslie Kong. From 1962 until his death in 1971, his Beverly's Studio and Beverly's Records were responsible for introducing Rock Steady and Reggae to the world.

Hux Brown led the Beverly's Studio band, The Dynamites, and played lead guitar. The band consisted of bass player Jackie Jackson; Winston Grennan and later Paul Douglas on drums; Winston Wright on organ; Gladstone Anderson and later Ansel Collins on piano; Lynn Tait and later Rad Bryan on rhythm guitar; Denzil Laing on percussion; Bobby Ellis on trumpet; with Val Bennett and "Deadly" Headly Bennett on saxophones. Beverly's and The Dynamites recorded Desmond Dekker's "Israelites", which brought Rock Steady to the United States in what became a phenomenal hit. No one there had ever heard anything quite like it. This was followed by Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight", Dave & Ansel Collins' "Double Barrell", and many classic tracks with Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Nearly living in the studio and churning out hit-after-hit, Hux was a natural to play the studio band leader/lead guitarist in the movie "The Harder They Come". The Dynamites supplied the music for every song on the soundtrack and Hux has several close-ups throughout.

When Paul Simon decided to include this exciting new music on his first solo album, "Paul Simon", he went to Jamaica to record with the studio band responsible for all the hits he had been hearing; Hux Brown & The Dynamites. The result was the monster hit single "Mother and Child Reunion". Herbie Mann wanted in on this new sound as well, and recorded three tracks in Jamaica with The Dynamites.

When Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals was released from prison after serving two years for Ganja possession, the Maytals had made Beverly's their new home, beginning a long association with Hux Brown & The Dynamites. After Leslie Kong's death, Hux Brown & The Dynamites moved to Dynamic Studios, where they continued to turn-out the hits. The Maytals also went to Dynamic.

When Toots & The Maytals were signed to Island Records, The Maytals expanded from being just three singers to include The Dynamites. Hux & The Dynamites continued to provide the band for hit recordings in addition to recording and touring with The Maytals. However, as The Maytals traveled the world, the members of The Dynamites began to settle in cities outside of Jamaica and relinquished their position as house band for Dynamic, all the while continuing to tour and record with The Maytals.

Hux married an American woman and moved to Oakland, California, and began supplying his distinctive sound to Cool Breeze™, as well as continuing to play with The Maytals and entertaining the idea of launching a solo career. He is currently preparing his first solo recording, which is projected to be released in Spring 2002.

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Biography

Discography