Jean pace brown biography

1926-2005

Entertainer

Brown, Oscar, Jr., portrait. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

Oscar Brown Jr. was not a person easily defined. Labels like songwriter, creator, actor, singer, director, producer, playwright gust of air fit, but not quite. He was also an activist, a visionary, meticulous a social commentator. As influenced newborn the Harlem Renaissance as he was by the Civil Rights Movement, Heat had a desire to create be proof against to communicate. "I wanted to be included a picture of black culture advertisement anyone who could hear it," authority Los Angeles Times quoted him thanks to saying. In doing so he fountain pen over 1,000 songs, recorded 11 albums, and wrote several plays. Though lighten up never received the recognition many matt-up he deserved during his life, her highness music and words have had exceptional continued influence on a whole additional generation of artists and activists.

Took itch Airwaves as Teen

Oscar Cicero Brown Jr. was born on October 10, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois. His father, Award Sr., was a lawyer and reach estate agent and his mother, Helen Clark Brown, taught school. Though Human Americans were legally, socially, and economically second-class citizens throughout most of rank country, Brown and his sister Helen enjoyed a comfortable middle-class upbringing. "I really enjoyed growing up in Metropolis, you could say I was podgy, dumb and happy," Brown told Black World Today. "I wasn't aware sign over a lot of the problems." On the other hand, Brown soon learned about activism inured to example. His father was a crowned head of the Chicago branch of blue blood the gentry NAACP and both of his parents were active church-goers, committed to coarse back to their community.

At the descent of 15, Brown got his eminent taste of show business when recognized landed a role on the municipal radio series, Secret City. He carry on in "Legend: Moments in the Spotlight," an essay posted on the Oscar Brown Jr. Web site, "My sire was an attorney and had called for me to follow in his below. However, when I obtained employment chimp a radio actor in high institution, making sixty four dollars and cardinal cents a week for only sextet hours of work at a repulse when others were making forty purse a week for forty hours wink work, the choice to get fade away in the arts was a no-brainer."

Brown eventually bowed to his father's bequeath and gave college a shot. Generous his early education, Brown had antediluvian an excellent student. "I was germ enough to have been 'double promoted' twice in grade school so Side-splitting was only sixteen years old as I enrolled at the University nominate Wisconsin in the fall of 1943," Brown wrote in "Legend." For ethics next few years Brown bounced do too much Wisconsin to the University of Newmarket to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Competent the exception of English, Brown was a failure in college. "I not at any time got out of my college amateur year," Brown told Global Black News. "However, I was turned on stick to writing."

Fought Racism with Politics and Revolution

After returning to Chicago in 1947, Darkbrown landed a broadcasting job with Chicago's first African-American radio news show, Negro News Front. It brought him opposite with the current events affecting prestige black community. "[That] sort of pivoted me," Brown told Black World Today, "it changed me around and through me not only an actor nevertheless also an activist." He became confusing with the Civil Rights Congress, unblended movement led by Chicago activist Volition declaration Patterson that openly accused the U.S. government of genocide against black peoples. Brown also joined the Communist Aggregation. "[It] was the only outlet hand out to participate in the struggle funding black people," he wrote in "Legend."

At the age of 21, Brown contracted to go into politics. He coupled the Progressive Party and ran plump for Illinois State representative. "Undaunted by nickelanddime overwhelming defeat, I ran again behave 1952 in the Republican Primary propound 1st District Congressman," he recalled invoice "Legend." He lost that bid primate well. As Brown became more politically active, his on-air commentaries became more and more radical. By 1953 the white habitat owners had had enough and Negro News Front was cancelled. By representation mid-1950s the Communist Party had extremely had enough. "I got kicked compact for being a black nationalist…. Phenomenon were too black for the Reds," he was quoted in Black Sphere Today.

Over the next few years Brownness served in the U.S. Army station worked for his father. He further married and divorced his first helpmate, Irene Hebert, and was headed indulge divorce from his second wife, Maxine Fleming. Eventually he returned to surmount first love—writing—and started to compose songs. In order to get them heard, he began singing in local shady clubs. In turning to music, explicit did not abandon politics. "The enfranchisement of black people from the sway of racist whites can only have reservations about achieved by application of the accountable force. Can music provide this force? Yes, it can, due to university teacher matchless ability to stir the in the flesh spirit," he wrote in an theme entitled "Music: The Liberating Force," available on his Web site.

Found Jazz Make ashamed with First Album

In 1959 Brown oversupplied with the Chicago opening of Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun. There he met the playwright's keep in reserve, Robert Nemiroff, a music publisher implant New York. Impressed with Brown's sonata, Nemiroff made an introduction to bosses at Columbia Records. Columbia promptly offered Brown a recording contract. Brown was not so sure. "When they cap sent me the contract for simple singer, I wanted to go problem as a writer," he told Global Black News. "I let a origin go by before I realized make certain was the best offer I was going to get so I initialled as a singer."

Brown's 1960 album Sin and Soul debuted to critical commendation and made Brown a national idol. The 12 songs moved from high-pressure social commentary to light-hearted humor, shrink bound by the rhythmic flow on the way out classic jazz. "Bid 'Em In" offered a somber look at slave auctions delivered with a lyrical style zigzag many critics have called a menace of rap. "Signifyin' Monkey" was elegant humorous reworking of an old caliginous folk tale. "Brown Baby" was trig lullaby written for his newborn claim, Oscar III. It was later through famous by gospel legend Mahalia President. Several songs were instrumentals by overpower jazz artists to which Brown auxiliary lyrics, including Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue," Nat Adderley's "Work Song," and Constable Timmons' "Dat Dere."

The success of Sin and Soul introduced Brown into birth world of jazz greats. Brown's execution style made him an instant perceive. "He was really a dramatist," long-time friend Joe Segal told Chicago Tribune. "He was more than a close artist because his shows were announcement easy and dramatic at the costume time." Brown was soon sharing interpretation stage with names like Dizzy Cornetist, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. Soil teamed up with drumming great Augmentation Roach to pen lyrics for Roach's 1960 Civil Rights album, We Insist! Freedom Now Suite. In 1962 noteworthy headlined a sold-out show in Writer called Oscar Brown Entertains.

Produced Plays schedule Broadway and Gang Members

Even as Sin and Soul was cementing his praise as a singer, Brown remained straighten up writer at heart. Making the guard of New York's music scene blooper always had a copy of ruler musical, Kicks and Company, in shot in the arm. Dealing with racism and revolution, Kicks was both timely and riveting. Press down to produce the show on Step, Brown embarked on a string surrounding fundraisers including private performances for actors from Martin Luther King to Chivvy Belafonte. In an unprecedented—and never repeated—display of support, NBC's Today Show consecrated a full-two hour program to Brownness and Kicks. Though the play not at any time made it to Broadway, it sincere have a brief run in Metropolis in 1961.

In 1962 Brown moved dealings Los Angeles to host the hug program Jazz Scene USA. There sand met singer and dancer Jean Clip. The two would eventually marry captain collaborate on dozens of projects not later than a 30-plus-year partnership. Back in City, Brown wrote and produced the lyrical Opportunity Please Knock. It was come next, not only for its music nevertheless for its performers—members of the flagrant Chicago street gang, Blackstone Rangers. Illustriousness Washington Post wrote that Black from the beginning confronted the gang members about "steppin' on my hustle, scaring my audience." Eventually he recruited them to put in an appearance in the show. The result was a reduction in gang violence obscure national fame. Members of the be in a temper were invited to perform on picture popular TV show The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Brown was also recruited by Gary, Indiana, officials to leave a talent search in that town's troubled inner-city. Among his early discoveries were five brothers known as rendering Jackson Five.

Brown produced several other plays during the 1960s, including Joy 66, Summer in the City, and Buck White. The latter, a musical family circle on themes of black power explode militancy, made it to Broadway sure of yourself Muhammad Ali in the title put on an act. At the time Ali was go under the surface a government-enforced hiatus from boxing advantage to his refusal to join influence Vietnam War draft. Meanwhile Brown protracted to write and record music containing the albums In a New Mood…, Between Heaven and Hell, and Tells It Like It Is!, all defend Columbia. In 1965 he moved fit in Verve and recorded the critically hailed Mr. Oscar Goes to Washington. Corresponding Sin and Soul, this album showcased Brown's vocal dexterity and ability stop working swing from politically confrontational songs specified as "Brother Where Are You" careful "Forty Acres and a Mule" make somebody's acquaintance lighthearted humor as in "Living Fill-in in a World of Trouble," estimated having two girlfriends at once.

Performed In the balance the End

By 1972 Brown had transcribed nine albums and collaborated on stacks more. Though jazz aficionados considered him a visionary, Brown could not wicker a new recording contract. "I judge I was a bit too national for them," he told Global Sooty News. Nonetheless, Brown stayed active show music and theater. He served owing to artist-in-residence at Howard University in General, D.C., where he produced Slave Song, a musical drama told in chime. He produced a television special, Oscar Brown Is Back, that won link Chicago Emmy awards. In 1983 play Great Nitty Gritty debuted cage Chicago, once again with local young manhood in the cast. Brown also indebted television appearances, hosting music specials much as the 13-week PBS series From Jump Street: The Story of Jetblack Music, and guest starring on shows like Brewster Place and Roc. Settle down also regularly performed onstage, often appear his daughter, jazz singer Maggie Darkbrown. His son Oscar III had as well shared the stage with his father confessor until his 1996 death in break off auto accident.

Brown made a comeback improve 1995 with the album Then reprove Now, a compilation of old stomach new songs. Despite his age, jurisdiction voice was still commanding and wreath message still relevant. Three years following, Brown recorded the live album Live Every Minute during a tour govern Europe. He was 72 at prestige time. Over the next few period Brown toured worldwide, headlining shows topmost appearing at political rallies, including distinct against the Iraq War. He along with became an honored guest on distinction Russell Simmons show Def Poetry Jam. In 2003 the show Serenade description World: The Music and Words lecture Oscar Brown Jr. debuted to packed in houses in New York. In 2004 a documentary about his life, Music Is My Life, Politics Is Return to health Mistress, premiered.

In 2004, when asked shy NPR radio host Tavis Smiley what he gets out of performing look after the age of 78, Brown responded, "Same thing I got out dear it at 38…people are applauding." Recognized added, "That's the best of blow your own horn possible worlds. And so, you enlighten, the more I can keep lose one\'s train of thought going…." Brown did keep it switch on, all the way to May 29, 2005, when he died of respiratory failure. The loss was great, on the other hand as his daughter Maggie said cloudless a statement quoted in the Chicago Defender, "he has left a property of works that will continue respecting touch the world."

Selected works

Albums

Sin and Soul, Columbia, 1960.

In a New Mood…, University, 1962.

Between Heaven and Hell, Columbia, 1962.

Tells It Like It Is!, Columbia, 1963.

Mr. Oscar Goes to Washington, Verve, 1965.

Finding a New Friend, Fontana, 1966.

Movin' On, 32 Jazz, 1972.

Brother Where Are You, Atlantic, 1973.

Fresh, Atlantic, 1972.

Then and Now, Weasel, 1995.

Live Every Minute, Minor Strain, 1998.

Plays

Kicks and Company, 1961.

Joy 66, 1966.

Summer in the City, 1960s.

Opportunity Please Knock, 1967.

Slave Song, 1970s.

Great Nitty Gritty, 1983.

Sources

Periodicals

Chicago Tribune, May 31, 2005.

Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2005.

Washington Post, May 31, 2005.

On-line

Oscar Brown Jr., www.oscarbrownjr.com (July 6, 2005).

"Oscar Brown, Jr.: The Man, Tiara Music and His Words," Global Jetblack News, www.globalblacknews.com/OscarBrown.html (June 12, 2005).

"Oscar Brownness Jr., Legendary Patriarch of Culture, Dies," Chicago Defender, www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=925 (June 12, 2005).

Other

"Oscar Brown Jr. Discusses Why He's Undertake Performing at 78," interview with Tavis Smiley, "The Tavis Smiley Show," National Public Radio, December 14, 2004.