Buster Brown (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buster Brown
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | August 15, 1911 Newton, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1976 (aged 64) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1943–1976 |
| Labels | Fire, Checker |
Buster Brown (born August 15, 1911 – died January 31, 1976) was an American blues and R&B singer. He is most famous for his popular song, "Fannie Mae".
About Buster Brown
Buster Brown was born in Cordele, Georgia. In the 1930s and 1940s, he played the harmonica in local clubs. He also made some early recordings. These recordings were not for sale. They included songs like "War Song" and "I'm Gonna Make You Happy." These were recorded in 1943 for the Library of Congress.
In 1956, Brown moved to New York City. There, he was discovered by Bobby Robinson. Robinson owned a record company called Fire Records.
In 1959, when he was almost 50 years old, Brown recorded "Fannie Mae." This song showed off his harmonica playing and unique vocal sounds. It became a big hit! The song reached number 38 on the US Top 40 chart. It also went all the way to number 1 on the R&B chart in April 1960.
Later in 1960, his version of Louis Jordan's song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" reached number 81 on the pop charts. Another one of his hits was "Sugar Babe" in 1962. This song reached number 19 on the R&B chart and number 99 on the pop chart.
In his later years, Buster Brown recorded for Checker Records. He also recorded for many smaller record labels. He helped write the song "Doctor Brown" with J. T. Brown. The famous band Fleetwood Mac later recorded their own version of this song. It was on their 1968 album, Mr. Wonderful.
Buster Brown's music got more attention in 1973. His song "Fannie Mae" was featured in the movie American Graffiti. It was also on the movie's soundtrack album.
His Passing
Buster Brown passed away in New York City in 1976. He was 64 years old.
Sometimes people mistakenly think his real name was "Wayman Glasco." However, Wayman Glasco was actually Brown's manager. After Brown died, his manager bought the rights to all of Brown's songs. This caused some confusion about Buster Brown's real name. While "Buster Brown" might have been a nickname, it could also have been his birth name.
Buster Brown's Music
- New King of the Blues (Fire, 1961)
- Get Down With Buster Brown (Souffle, 1973)
- Raise a Ruckus Tonight (DJM, 1976)
- Toughest Terry & Baddest Brown (Sundown, 1986) – with Sonny Terry
- Good News (Charly, 1989)
- The Very Best of Buster Brown (Collectables, 1999)
