Mel Brown (drummer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mel Brown
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| Born | July 25, 1944 Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Portland State University |
| Occupation | Musician, drummer |
| Years active | 1967–present |
Mel Brown, born on July 25, 1944, is a famous American jazz drummer. He is known as one of the most important jazz musicians from Portland, Oregon.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Mel Brown was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1944. As a young boy, he delivered newspapers in Portland's jazz district. This area was full of music and likely inspired him.
During high school, Mel was very active with the Portland Junior Symphony. He also attended Portland State University. While at college, he spent a lot of time playing drums in local jazz clubs. He even played and recorded with a group called "Billy Larkin & The Delegates."
After graduating from Portland State University, Mel moved to Vancouver, Washington. There, he got a regular job playing music with guitarist Tommy Chong. One night, the famous singer Martha Reeves saw him play. She was so impressed that she hired him in 1967 to join her band, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Mel played with them for a couple of years. Martha Reeves even mentioned him on one of her live albums. Later, the record company Motown hired him as a studio musician. This meant he would play on recordings and tour with other Motown artists.
Mel Brown's Music Career
Working with Martha Reeves led Mel to a contract with Motown Records. After that, he recorded with some of the biggest names in Motown. These included Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. In the 1970s and 80s, drummers like Mel were called "session musicians." They played on recordings or with bands on stage. However, their names were often not printed on albums because they were not official band members.
In 1973, Mel Brown moved back to Portland, Oregon, and made it his permanent home. Six years later, he started his own trio band. It included piano player George Mitchell and bass player Phil Baker.
From 1978 to 1980, Mel toured with the legendary singer Diana Ross and his trio band. Mel also owned and ran The Mel Brown Drum Shop until 1984. After that, he opened a bookkeeping business called Metropolitan Accounting and Tax. Even with his new business, he kept playing music. He performed many shows throughout Portland's jazz district.
Mel also created a group called the Sextet. They performed every week at a place called The Hobbit. He also had the chance to record and play with Leroy Vinnegar. The two of them started a special Hammond B-3 organ quintet. In the 1990s, Mel joined the board of directors for the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. He also created the Mel Brown Jazz summer camp workshop. This camp is held at Western Oregon University. In 1999, Mel Brown was honored by being inducted into the Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he also played with the Oregon Symphony.
Today, Mel Brown still lives in Portland. He continues to run his accounting company during the day. For many years, he had regular performances at Portland's Jimmy Mak's club. He played weekly with his Septet, Quartet, and B3 Organ Group until the club closed in 2016. He still plays regularly with his B3 Organ Group at the Jack London Revue. He also performs with his trio at Salty's on the Columbia in Portland, Oregon.
Discography
Mel Brown has recorded many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- 1988: Andrei Kitaev, Tim Gilson, Mel Brown - Yesterdays
- 1989: Mel Brown Sextet - Plays Music By Gordon Lee: Gordon Bleu
- 1994: Jessica Williams and Leroy Vinnegar with Mel Brown - Encounters
- 1996: Leroy Vinnegar with Jessica Williams and Mel Brown - The Boss of the Walking Bass: A Tribute to Leroy Vinnegar
- 1999: Mel Brown [B3 Organ] Quintet - Live at Jimmy Mak's
- 2000: Mel Brown [Sextet] - Mister Groove
- 2001: Patrick Lamb (featuring Louis Pain, Jason Carter and Mel Brown) - Sunshine Alley
- 2003: Mel Brown B3 Organ Quartet - Live at the Britt Festival
- 2005: Mel Brown Quartet - Girl Talk
- 2006: Mel Brown Quartet - Live: An Evening with the MBQ
- 2006: Mel Brown Sextet - Plays the Music of Gordon Lee: Gordon Bleu (20th Anniversary Edition)
- 2006: Renato Caranto (featuring Gordon Lee, Andre St. James and Mel Brown) - Nice To Be Home
- 2006: Mel Brown B3 Organ Group - Smokin' at Jimmy's
- 2007: Jof Lee, Tim Gilson, Mel Brown - Live at Salty's
- 2014: Gordon Lee with the Mel Brown Septet - Tuesday Night
- 2014: Mel Brown B3 Organ Group - Ticket To Ride: 16th Anniversary Show, Vol. 1
- 2014: Mel Brown B3 Organ Group - More Today Than Yesterday: 16th Anniversary Show, Vol. 2
- 2019: King Louie Organ Trio (featuring Renato Caranto, Edwin Coleman III and Mel Brown + guests: Bruce Conte and Dan Faehnle) - It's About Time
Mel Brown also recorded with Billy Larkin & The Delegates:
- 1964: Billy Larkin & The Delegates
- 1965: Blue Lights
- 1965: Hole In The Wall
- 1968: The Best of Billy Larkin & The Delegates
