Charles Brown (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Brown
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Brown performing in 1996
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tony Russell Brown |
| Born | September 13, 1922 Texas City, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1999 (aged 76) Oakland, California |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1943–1999 |
| Labels | Aladdin, King, Ace, Bullseye Blues, Verve, 32 Jazz |
Charles Brown (born Tony Russell Brown on September 13, 1922) was an American singer and piano player. He was known for his smooth, calm style of blues music. This style became very popular on the West Coast of the U.S. in the 1940s and 1950s.
Between 1949 and 1952, Charles Brown had seven songs that reached the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard R&B music charts. Some of his most famous songs were "Driftin' Blues" and "Merry Christmas Baby". He passed away on January 21, 1999.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Life
Charles Brown was born in Texas City, Texas. From a young age, he loved music. He learned to play the piano and had training in classical music.
He finished high school in Galveston, Texas, in 1939. Then, he went to Prairie View A&M College and earned a degree in chemistry in 1942. After college, he worked as a chemistry teacher in Baytown, Texas. He also worked at a factory and later as an electrician. In 1943, he moved to Los Angeles, California.
Starting His Music Career
Early Success with Johnny Moore
During World War II, many African Americans moved to Los Angeles. This led to a new and exciting nightclub scene. Musicians started to play a smoother, less rough style of blues music. This new sound featured light piano playing and calm singing.
A famous jazz piano player named Nat King Cole was very popular with this style. When he left Los Angeles, a group called Johnny Moore's Three Blazers took his place. Charles Brown played piano and sang for this group.
The Three Blazers signed with Exclusive Records. In 1945, they recorded "Drifting Blues." Charles Brown sang and played piano on this song. It stayed on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart for six months! This song helped change American music.
Over the next three years, Brown led the group in more hit songs for Aladdin Records. These included "New Orleans Blues" and the first version of "Merry Christmas Baby" (both in 1947). "More Than You Know" (1948) was another hit. Charles Brown's smooth style was very popular in the clubs on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. He inspired many other musicians, like Ray Charles.
Becoming a Solo Star
By the late 1940s, more and more people, including white teenagers, started loving blues music. This led to a bigger demand for blues singers. Charles Brown's singing was lighter and more relaxed. He played with bands that had saxophone sections and played from musical arrangements.
In 1948, Charles Brown left the Three Blazers. He started his own group with Eddie Williams on bass and Charles Norris on guitar. He signed with Aladdin Records and quickly had success with "Get Yourself Another Fool."
Then came one of his biggest hits, "Trouble Blues," in 1949. This song was number one on the Billboard R&B chart for 15 weeks! He followed this with other popular songs like "In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down" and "My Baby's Gone."
In 1951, he had another number one hit with "Black Night." It stayed at the top for 14 weeks. His last big hit for a while was "Hard Times" in 1951.
As rock and roll music became more popular, Charles Brown's calm style didn't fit as well. He faded from national attention for a time. However, he still had a small group of loyal fans. Other famous musicians, like John Lee Hooker, even covered his songs.
His song "Please Come Home for Christmas" became a hit for King Records in 1960. This song remained very popular during the holiday season. By 1968, it had sold over one million copies!
Later Career and Comeback
In the 1980s, Charles Brown started performing again in New York City. These shows led to a new recording contract. He recorded an album called One More for the Road.
After this album's success, famous singer Bonnie Raitt helped Charles Brown start a comeback tour. He began recording and performing again, with guitarist Danny Caron leading his band. Other band members included Clifford Solomon on saxophone, Ruth Davies on bass, and Gaylord Birch on drums.
Several of his later albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. In the 1980s, Brown also toured widely as the opening act for Bonnie Raitt.
Awards and Tributes
Charles Brown received many honors for his music:
- In 1996, he was added to the Blues Hall of Fame.
- In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 1997, he received a National Heritage Fellowship. This is the highest honor in folk and traditional arts in the United States.
He was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album three times:
- In 1991 for All My Life
- In 1992 for Someone To Love
- In 1995 for Charles Brown's Cool Christmas Blues
He also won several Blues Music Awards (formerly called the W. C. Handy Awards). He won for Best Piano/Keyboard Player in 1991 and for Male Blues Vocalist in 1993 and 1995.
Death
Charles Brown passed away in 1999 in Oakland, California, from heart failure. He was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Discography
This is a list of albums released by Charles Brown as a leader.
- Drifting Blues (Score, 1957)
- Sings Christmas Songs (King, 1961)
- The Great Charles Brown That Will Grip Your Heart (King, 1963)
- Boss of the Blues (Mainstream, 1964)
- Ballads My Way (Mainstream, 1965)
- Legend! (Bluesway, 1970)
- Blues 'n' Brown (Jewel, 1972)
- Merry Christmas Baby (Big Town, 1977)
- Music, Maestro, Please (Big Town, 1978)
- Please Come Home for Christmas (Gusto, 1978)
- One More for the Road (Blue Side, 1986)
- All My Life (Bullseye Blues, 1990)
- Someone to Love (Bullseye Blues, 1992)
- Blues and Other Love Songs (Muse, 1992)
- These Blues (Gitanes/Verve, 1994)
- Just a Lucky So and So (Bullseye Blues, 1994)
- Charles Brown's Cool Christmas Blues (Bullseye Blues, 1994)
- Live (Charly Blues, 1995)
- Honey Dripper (Gitanes/Verve, 1996)
- So Goes Love (Verve, 1998)
- In a Grand Style (Bullseye Blues, 1999)
Images for kids
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See also
In Spanish: Charles Brown (músico) para niños
