Uzee Brown Jr. facts for kids

Uzee Brown Jr. (born in 1950) is a talented American musician from Cowpens, South Carolina. He is a singer, performer, composer, and teacher. He also directs choirs, helping groups sing beautifully together. Uzee Brown Jr. studied music at several well-known places. These include the Berkshire Music Center, the University of Siena in Italy, Morehouse College, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Michigan.

About Uzee Brown Jr.

Uzee Brown Jr. has created music for theater. He wrote a musical piece called "I'm Building Me a Home" in the late 1970s. This piece was later used in Spike Lee's movie "School Daze" in 1987. The Morehouse Glee Club, a famous choir, recorded it for the movie's soundtrack while they were on tour.

Brown Jr. has also been recognized for his work in musicals. He was nominated for an AUDELCO award. This award celebrates excellence in Black theater. He earned the nomination for his work as a musical director and arranger for an off-Broadway play called ZION.

Outside of theater, Uzee Brown Jr. has held important leadership roles. He was the president of the National Association of Negro Musicians. During his time as president, his work was featured in a special book. This book was about the history of the National Association of Negro Musicians. It was published by the Center for Black Music Research.

For twelve years, he directed the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir. He led this choir on exciting tours. They traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and France in 2002. They also visited Italy in 2004.

For more than thirty years, Brown Jr. has taught about African-American music. He especially focuses on Spirituals, which are a type of religious folk song. He used to be the head of the Music Department at Clark Atlanta University. He also helped start Onyx Opera Atlanta and was its chairman. He was chosen to be on the board of trustees at Morehouse College. Today, Uzee Brown Jr. is a Music Professor at Morehouse College. He is also the head of the Creative and Performing Arts Division there.

His musical arrangements and compositions are published by two companies. These are Lawson-Gould Publishing Company and Roger Dean Publishing Company. In 2006, he released a music CD called Great day. This CD featured his own arrangements of solo spiritual songs.

Musical Works

Uzee Brown Jr. has been involved in many musical productions. Here are some of his notable works:

• Treemonisha, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, in 1972.
• King Solomon, for Emory Theater Productions, in 1988.
• Jubilee, for the Alliance Theater and National Black Arts Festival, in 1994.
• The Negro Speaks of Rivers, A Death Song, performed on Performance Today, January 15, 1999.
• Zabette, for Georgia State University, in 1999.

Compositions and Arrangements

Uzee Brown Jr. has written many original songs (compositions). He has also changed existing songs to make them new (arrangements). Here are some of his musical creations:

• (Composer) Musical prologue for the movie School Daze, 1988.
• (Composer) O Redeemed! A Set of African-American Spirituals, for Medium-High Voice, R. Dean Publishing, 1994.
• (Composer) Zion (a musical play), for Theater in the Square, Atlanta, GA, 1996.
• (Arranger) “We Shall Overcome,” for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 1999.
• (Arranger) “Go Where I Send Thee,” GIA Publications.
• (Arranger) “Rock-a My Soul,” GIA Publications.
• (Composer) “Be With Us All, Lord.”
• (Arranger) “Come By Here.”
• (Composer) “Dide Ta Deo.”
• (Arranger) “I’m Building Me a Home.”
• (Arranger) “John Was A Writer.”
• (Composer) “Oh The Savior’s Comin’ Hallelu.”
• (Arranger) “Sweep Clean Mary.”
• (Composer) “Wake Me Up Lord.”
• (Composer) “Zungo.”
• (Composer) “This River.”
• “My God Is So High.”
• “Gonna Walk All Over God’s Heaven.”
• “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.”
• "Yes, Lord.”
• “Ain’t-a That Good News!”