Mel Brown (guitarist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mel Brown
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 7, 1939 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | March 20, 2009 (aged 69) Kitchener, Ontario Canada |
| Genres | Blues rock, blues, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Labels | ABC Impulse! Electro-Fi |
| Associated acts | Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Olympics, Etta James, Albert Collins |
Mel Brown (born October 7, 1939 – died March 20, 2009) was a talented American blues guitarist and singer. He was well-known for playing with the famous musician Bobby "Blue" Bland for ten years. Mel Brown also released more than a dozen of his own albums between 1967 and 2006, showing off his amazing guitar skills.
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About Mel Brown's Music Journey
Mel Brown was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in the United States. When he was a teenager, he got his first guitar while recovering from an illness called meningitis. By 1955, he was already playing for other musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson II. He then spent two years playing with Johnny Otis.
This led him to work with the legendary singer Etta James. For these performances, Mel changed his Gibson Les Paul guitar to a ES-175. This new guitar gave his music a richer and fuller sound. This unique sound helped him stand out from other guitarists at the time.
Mel Brown's Career Highlights
After a lot of touring, Mel Brown moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he continued to work with Johnny Otis, playing many shows at the Club Sands. He also played guitar for other famous artists like Bobby Darin and Bill Cosby. He even played on T-Bone Walker's album Funky Town.
A producer from ABC Records, Bob Thiele, noticed Mel's talent. He offered Mel the chance to record his own music. Mel released his first album, Chicken Fat, in 1967. Even though he was mainly a blues musician, Mel also explored jazz and soul jazz music. He worked with Bob Thiele on these projects. He even played a big part in the Oliver Nelson Big Band and appeared on their album Live from Los Angeles.
One of Mel Brown's most famous songs is a long guitar solo called "Eighteen Pounds of Unclean Chitlings." This amazing 11-minute song is on his 1970 album, I'd Rather Suck My Thumb. It was so popular that it was re-released as the main song on a collection in 1973.
For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, Mel Brown was a key member of the house band at Antone's Night Club in Austin, Texas. This was a very famous place for blues music.
Awards and Later Life
Mel Brown was recognized for his musical talent in Canada too. He was nominated for a Juno Award in both 2001 and 2002. The Juno Awards are like the Grammy Awards for Canadian music.
Mel Brown passed away on March 20, 2009, at the age of 69. He died in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, due to complications from a lung condition called emphysema.
A documentary film about his life, called Love Lost & Found: The Story of Mel Brown, was released in theaters in 2014. It tells the story of his incredible journey in music.
Mel Brown's Albums
Mel Brown released many albums as a leader and also played on albums for other artists.
Albums as the Main Artist
- 1967: Chicken Fat
- 1968: The Wizard
- 1969: Blues for We
- 1969: I'd Rather Suck My Thumb
- 1971: Mel Brown's Fifth
- 1973: Big Foot Country Girl
- 1973: Eighteen Pounds of Unclean Chitlins and Other Greasy Blues Specialties
- 1998: Can't Stop Blowin' (with Snooky Pryor)
- 1999: Neck Bones & Caviar
- 2000: Double Shot! (with Snooky Pryor)
- 2001: Homewreckin’ Done Live (with The Homewreckers)
- 2006: Blues – A Beautiful Thing (with The Homewreckers)
- 2006: Mel Brown – The DVD
Albums as a Guest Musician
Mel Brown also played guitar, piano, or organ on albums for many other famous musicians, including:
