BRENT DOWE (c.1945 - 2006)
In 1962 Brent Dowe teamed with Tony Brevett and Trevor McNaughton to form The Melodians. As lead singer, Dowe and The Melodians recorded hits such as Little Nut Tree, Sweet Sensation, You Have Caught Me, Swing and Dine and Rivers of Babylon.
Born in St. James, Dowe came to Kingston, where his talent shone at the weekly Friday evening concerts at Trench Town Comprehensive High School. He continued to hone his musical skills until he became a part of the Skatalites. His first recording was Lay it On done at Studio One. The group split in 1968, came back together in 1969 and then spilt again.
Dowe pursued a solo career, recording songs such as Close to You. He worked with the top producers at the time such as Sir Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, Sonia Pottinger and Leslie Kong. It was with Kong that he had his biggest hit, Rivers of Babylon. The song was a hit in Jamaica and the United Kingdom and appeared on the soundtrack for the movie The Harder They Come.
Dowe died of a heart attack on January 29, 2006.