Roy Brown (blues musician)
| Roy Brown | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roy James Brown |
| Born |
September 10, 1920 or 1925 Kinder, Louisiana, United States |
| Died | May 25, 1981 (age 55-60) San Fernando, California, United States |
| Genres | Jump blues, rhythm and blues, blues, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1945–1981 |
Roy James Brown (September 10, 1920 or 1925 – May 25, 1981) was an American R&B singer, songwriter and musician, who had a significant influence on the early development of rock and roll and the direction of R&B. His original song and hit recording "Good Rocking Tonight" was covered by Wynonie Harris, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, James Brown, the Doors, and the rock group Montrose. Brown was the first singer in recording history to sing R&B songs with a gospel-steeped delivery, which was then considered taboo by many churches. In addition, his melismatic, pleading vocal style influenced such notable artists as B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Elvis Presley, Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Little Richard.
Brown was born in Kinder, Louisiana.Some sources report his birth date as September 10, 1925, but the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc gave the date as September 10, 1920, on the basis of information in the 1930 census and Social Security records, and stated that 1925 is incorrect.
As with most R&B singers, he started singing gospel music in church. His mother was an accomplished singer and church organist. After a move to Los Angeles in the 1940s and a brief period as a professional boxer in the welterweight category, he won a singing contest in 1945 at the Million Dollar Theater, covering "There's No You", originally recorded by Bing Crosby. In 1946, Brown moved to Galveston, Texas, where he sang in Joe Coleman's group, performing mostly songs from the Hit Parade, in a nightclub called the Club Granada. His numbers included a song he wrote, "Good Rocking Tonight". After being rejected by the armed forces because of flat feet, he secured his first major job in a club in Shreveport, Louisiana, singing mostly pop ballads such as "Stardust" and "Blue Hawaii". The owner of Bill Riley's Palace Park hired him, as Brown told an interviewer for Blues Unlimited, because of his appeal as "a Negro singer who sounds white." It was at the Palace Park that Brown started developing a blues repertoire, learning contemporary R&B tunes such as "Jelly Jelly" (recorded by Billy Eckstine). He returned to New Orleans in 1947, where he performed at the Dew Drop Inn.
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