Nappy Brown

Nappy Brown
Nappy Brown in Tokyo, Japan, 1996.
Background information
Birth name	Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp
Also known as	Nappy Brown
Born	(1929-10-12)October 12, 1929 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Died	September 20, 2008(2008-09-20) (aged 78) Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Genres	R&B Soul Blues
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1954–2008
Associated acts	The Heavenly Lights, Nappy Brown and the Heartfixers

Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp (October 12, 1929 – September 20, 2008) better known by his stage name Nappy Brown, was an American R&B singer. His hits include the 1955 Billboard chart #2, "Don't Be Angry", "Little By Little", and "Night Time Is the Right Time". His style is instantly recognizable; Brown used a wide vibrato, melisma, and distinctive extra syllables, in particular, "li-li-li-li-li."

Brown was the son of Kathryn Culp and Sammie Lee Brown. After his mother died he was brought up by Fred and Maggie Culp. They attended Gethsemane AME Zion Church and he attended school in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He began his career singing gospel music before switching to R&B. In 1954 he won a recording contract with Savoy Records, which yielded a series of hits, including "Don't Be Angry" (#2 R&B, #25 pop, 1955), "Pitter Patter" (#10 R&B, 1955), "Little By Little" (#57 pop, 1956), and "It Don't Hurt No More" (#8 R&B, #89 pop, 1958). Brown was among the biggest stars in R&B, frequently touring with the revues of Alan Freed.

His songs, along with those of his peers and contemporaries (such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino), were among the first wave of African-American pop music to become noticed and popular with white audiences.Elvis Presley reportedly used to see Brown perform whenever he appeared in Memphis. In addition to Brown's influence on blues music, and 1950s R&B and pop, Brown's powerful and protean voice, combined with his distinctive emotive style, is widely viewed as a key link in the development of soul music.