Jewel Brown
Jewel Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown c. 2004 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 30, 1937 |
| Died | June 25, 2024 (aged 86) |
| Genres | Jazz, blues |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | Late 1940s–2024 |
Jewel Brown (August 30, 1937 – June 25, 2024) was an American jazz and blues singer. She performed alongside artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.[1] Brown was inducted into the Blues Smithsonian Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]
In 2013, Brown was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)' category.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Brown was born in Houston and her family lived in Third Ward, Houston, where she attended Blackshear Elementary School.[4]
Early singing career
[edit]Brown began singing at the Manhattan Club in Galveston. She sang alongside Elmore Nixon and Henry Hayes, and also performed at Club Ebony. She won a talent show at age 9 at the Masonic Temple, which was located in Fourth Ward, Houston.[1] Brown toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1960s with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars band as a featured Artist.
As a teenager, Brown continued performing in clubs around Houston and Galveston. She went on to join Louis Armstrong's band in the 1960s.[5] She was introduced to Jack Ruby by James Henry Dolan of the American Guild of Variety Artists, Brown sang at Ruby's club for about a year before they had a falling out.[6]
Death
[edit]On June 26, 2024, Brown's publicist announced her death from colon cancer at the age of 86.[7][8]
Discography
[edit]As leader
[edit]- Show Time (Fantasy, 1988)
- Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown (Dialtone, 2012)[9]
- Rollercoaster Boogie (Dynaflow, 2014)
As guest
[edit]With Louis Armstrong
- Best Live Concert 1: Jazz in Paris (Verve)
Videos
[edit]- With Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong – Live in Australia (DVD) (Euroarts)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lindsey, Craig (June 8, 2022). "Houston's Jewel Brown, the 'Beyoncé of her time,' to be honored this weekend". Preview | Houston Arts & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Sacksteder, John (March 13, 2023). "Jewel Brown – Thanks for Good Ole' Music and Memories | Album Review". Blues Blast Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees - 2013 - 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ Kesbeh, Dina. "Jewel Brown". houstonhistorymagazine.org. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Dansby, Andrew (March 28, 2015). "Houston singer Jewel Brown revives her career at age 77". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Hudson, Kathleen (2007). Women in Texas Music: Stories and Songs. University of Texas Press. pp. 135–6.
- ^ "Jewel Brown, Houston-native legendary jazz singer, dies at 86". ABC13. Houston, Texas. June 26, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- ^ Welch, Monique (June 27, 2024). "'Keep a cool booty': Family and friends remember Houston jazz and blues singer Jewel Brown". Houston Landing. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- ^ "Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
External links
[edit]
- Biography and archives at Houston Public Library
- Jewel Brown at IMDb
- Jewel Brown discography at Discogs
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1937 births
- 2024 deaths
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 20th-century American women singers
- 20th-century American singers
- American women jazz singers
- American jazz singers
- American blues singers
- Singers from Houston
- Jazz musicians from Houston
- Jazz musicians from Texas
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- Deaths from colorectal cancer in Texas