Jocelyn Brown facts for kids

Jocelyn Lorette Brown (born November 25, 1950) is an American singer famous for her powerful voice in R&B and dance songs. She is also known by the name Jocelyn Shaw.

Brown is a very successful artist, especially in the United Kingdom. She has had 23 hit songs on the UK charts. Eight of these songs made it into the top 20, which is a major achievement for any musician.

Life and Music Career

Growing Up with Music

Jocelyn Brown was born in Kinston, North Carolina, into a family full of talented singers. Her mother, grandmother, aunts, and a cousin were all skilled singers. Her aunt, Barbara Roy, was even in a popular group called Ecstasy, Passion & Pain.

From a young age, Brown sang in church gospel choirs in Brooklyn, New York. Her amazing voice made her a favorite singer at her uncle's church in Washington, D.C.. Later, she decided to try other styles of music besides gospel. She joined a local band and then a New York funk and disco group called Kleeer.

Becoming a Star

In the late 1970s, Brown's career took off. She worked with many famous musicians and groups, including Disco-Tex and the ...-O-Lettes, Musique, Cerrone, and Inner Life. In 1980, she performed with the famous singer and actress Bette Midler in her concert movie Divine Madness.

In 1984, Brown released her own hit song, "Somebody Else's Guy". She helped write the song, and it became a huge success. It reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B music chart in the U.S.

Another one of her famous songs is "Love's Gonna Get You" from 1985. A part of this song was later used in other hit songs. This is called sampling, where artists take a small piece of an old song and use it in a new one.

Famous Collaborations

Brown has worked with many other artists. She toured the world with Boy George and his band Culture Club in 1985. She also helped Boy George write his 1987 hit song, "Keep Me in Mind".

One of the most famous samples of her voice is the line "I've got the power." The group Snap! used it in their worldwide hit "The Power" in 1990. The hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions also used her voice in one of their songs.

In 1991, she was the singer on Right Said Fred's hit song "Don't Talk Just Kiss". In 1994, she recorded a duet of "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with singer Kym Mazelle.

Recent Years

Since 1990, Jocelyn Brown has lived in London, England. She continues to record music and perform. She has appeared on British TV shows like Just the Two of Us and Popstar to Operastar.

In 2007, she sang the American national anthem at Wembley Stadium in London. This was for the first official American football game ever played outside of the United States.

In 2024, she was featured in a PBS television series about the history of disco music, called Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution.

Discography

Brown has released several albums and many famous songs over her long career.

Albums

• Somebody Else's Guy (1984)
• One from the Heart (1987)
• Unreleased (2006)
• True Praise (2010)

Famous Songs

Some of Jocelyn Brown's most well-known songs include:

• "Somebody Else's Guy" (1984): Her biggest solo hit in the U.S.
• "Love's Gonna Get You" (1985): A number one dance hit in the U.S.
• "Always There" (1991): A collaboration with the group Incognito that was a top 10 hit in the UK.
• "Don't Talk Just Kiss" (1991): A hit song with the group Right Said Fred.
• "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (1994): A popular duet with Kym Mazelle.
• "Keep On Jumpin'" (1996): A number one dance hit with Todd Terry, featuring Brown and Martha Wash.
• "Somethin' Going On" (1997): Another hit with Todd Terry, Brown, and Martha Wash.

See also

In Spanish: Jocelyn Brown para niños

• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
• List of disco artists (F–K)
• List of house music artists