With the creation of Summer Records, Jerry Brown helped infuse reggae and the Caribbean sound into the Canadian music landscape. Founded in Malton, Ontario, the label was often refered to as the answer to Lee Perry’s Ark. The label was created in 1974 by Brown, with first releases “”Sun Rise”” followed by “”Love Makes The World Go Round”” by Johnny Osbourne. The tracks were co-produced by one-time collaborator, Oswald Creary, who later founded Half Moon Records.

Born in Jamaica, Brown began his music career as a singer for group The Jamaicans, leaving just before the height of the groups popularity. He briefly worked on cruise ships, before deciding to make the move to Canada. Once settled, he found a small, but budding, Caribbean scene and created Summer Records. While the singles weren’t as popular in Canada, they made a splash in Jamaica, bearing a “”Made in Jamaica”” sticker by Brown, in order to appeal to the Jamaican audience. Their first full length album was Innocent Youths by Earth, Roots & Water, the studio band of the label.

The label acted as congregation grounds for reggae locals and travellers alike, featuring musicians like, Jackie Mittoo, Stranger Cole, Willi Williams, Noel Davis, Leroy Sibbles, and Carl Dawkins, to name a few. The renowned dub-mixer and producer, Prince Jammy, now known as King Jammy, wired the studio, which unfortunately led to tension between Creary and Brown. This led to Creary leaving the project and forming Half Moon Records.

Brown was a musician himself and had tracks of his own including, “”Dreadlock Lady”” and “”Lady Dub””. Unfortunately in 1988, Brown would have to close-up shop, as he was working as a full-time mechanic and needed to focus on his family. He sold his home and equipment, and moved back to Jamaica. The singles and records produced by Summer Records became scarce, until Light in The Attic Records re-released some of their works in the 2000s. They produced album Summer Records Anthology, in 2003, cataloging the labels work from 1974-1988. They included in a dual release, archival footage of Jerry Brown, Jackie Mittoo, Willi Williams, and other friends of Summer Records, shot in Toronto and Malton in the early 1970’s and 80’s. They also re-released Earth, Roots & Water album, Innocent Youths in 2008.

Browns iconic Summer Records, as one of Canada’s first Black-owned record labels and one of first to release Canadian made reggae music, it has left a lasting legacy. Filling in the gaps of a lacking representation of Caribbean music in Canada, Jerry Brown is a foundational pillar in the reggae community.