Maxine Brown (country singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maxine Brown
Maxine Brown in 1967
Background information
Birth name	Ella Maxine Brown
Born	(1931-04-27)April 27, 1931 Campti, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	January 21, 2019(2019-01-21) (aged 87) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres	country, folk, gospel
Years active	1955–1969
Labels	RCA Victor, Chart Records
Associated acts	Jim Ed Brown, Bonnie Brown

Maxine Brown (born Ella Maxine Brown on April 27, 1931 – died January 21, 2019) was an American country music singer. She was a key member of the famous 1950s music group, the Browns. Later, she also had a short solo career.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Maxine Brown was born in Campti, Louisiana. When she was very young, her family moved to a farm in Sparkman, Arkansas. Her parents encouraged her love for music. She started singing and performing at local events.

In 1954, Maxine signed a music deal with RCA Records. She formed a singing duo with her younger brother, Jim Ed Brown. Their funny song, "Looking Back to See," became a big hit. It reached number 8 on the music charts in the summer of 1954.

The Browns: A Family Trio

In 1955, Maxine and Jim Ed went on tour with Elvis Presley. During this time, their younger sister, Bonnie Brown, joined them. This created the famous trio known as the Browns.

The group often performed on the Louisiana Hayride show. This helped them share their unique sound with many people.

"The Three Bells" and Other Hits

The Browns had their biggest hit song in 1959. It was a folk-pop song called "The Three Bells." This song became number one on both the pop and country music charts.

Before recording "The Three Bells," the group almost decided to stop singing together. Their music producer, Chet Atkins, convinced them to record just one more song. Bonnie had wanted to record "The Three Bells," which was a French song. Because "The Three Bells" was such a huge success, they decided to keep performing.

In December 1959, their next song, "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)," was also very popular. It reached number 7 on the country chart. In 1960, "The Old Lamp-Lighter" became another hit for the group.

Grand Ole Opry and Group's End

A special moment for the group happened in 1963. They were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a very important honor for country music artists. The Browns continued to perform together until they officially stopped in 1967.

Solo Career and Later Years

After The Browns disbanded, Maxine Brown had a short solo career. In the late 1960s, she released a song and an album. The album was called Sugar Cane County.

In 2005, Maxine wrote a book about her life. It was called Looking Back to See. The book shared stories about the country music world in the 1950s and 1960s.

Maxine Brown passed away on January 21, 2019. She was 87 years old. She had health problems with her heart and kidneys. Her siblings, Jim Ed and Bonnie, had passed away before her.

Images for kids

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  Maxine Brown in 1967