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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > OSCAR BROWN, JR. DEAD: Jazz Great Died Sunday At Age 78.
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Thread started 05/31/05 10:06am

Harlepolis

OSCAR BROWN, JR. DEAD: Jazz Great Died Sunday At Age 78.



*Things didn't look good when we brought you news of his illness recently. Now, sadly we must report that legendary rhythm & blues and jazz singer, Oscar Brown, Jr., is dead. He died in Chicago on Sunday at age 78 following a two-month illness.

Brown had been hospitalized in April and again in mid-May complaining of pain and paralysis in his legs. He had emergency surgery on May 16 to address an abscess on his lower spine, Napoleon Brown said. He was known for such compositions "The Snake," "Signifyin' Monkey" and lyrics for Miles Davis' "All Blues."

His bio noted that he was the son of a prosperous attorney and real estate broker and he began performing on radio as a teenager. His first album, Sin and Soul, came out in 1960. He appeared with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderly.

While writing more than a dozen plays and musicals, Oscar Brown, Jr. was also active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, running unsuccessfully twice for political office -- first for the Illinois legislature and later for the US Congress.
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Reply #1 posted 05/31/05 10:45am

theAudience

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This is where I remember hearing his name first...



...as lyricist on the Freedom Now Suite.


We seem to be losing folks left and right. disbelief


tombstone
RIP


tA

peace Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm
"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all."
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Reply #2 posted 05/31/05 1:55pm

funkpill

pray
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Reply #3 posted 05/31/05 3:36pm

DorothyParkerW
asCool

I saw this on the news yesterday. It's so saddening to hear because aware individuals like that do not grow on trees. RIP Mr. Brown, you will be missed. sad
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Reply #4 posted 05/31/05 3:47pm

sinisterpentat
onic

bawl

i never had to chance to catch him live!
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Reply #5 posted 05/31/05 5:26pm

NewPowerSista

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Harlepolis said:



*Things didn't look good when we brought you news of his illness recently. Now, sadly we must report that legendary rhythm & blues and jazz singer, Oscar Brown, Jr., is dead. He died in Chicago on Sunday at age 78 following a two-month illness.

Brown had been hospitalized in April and again in mid-May complaining of pain and paralysis in his legs. He had emergency surgery on May 16 to address an abscess on his lower spine, Napoleon Brown said. He was known for such compositions "The Snake," "Signifyin' Monkey" and lyrics for Miles Davis' "All Blues."

His bio noted that he was the son of a prosperous attorney and real estate broker and he began performing on radio as a teenager. His first album, Sin and Soul, came out in 1960. He appeared with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderly.

While writing more than a dozen plays and musicals, Oscar Brown, Jr. was also active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, running unsuccessfully twice for political office -- first for the Illinois legislature and later for the US Congress.


I cried when I read this today. I've got a few years on most of y'all and I've been a fan of Oscar Brown Jr. for a long time! In fact, I have some of his work on vinyl including a cast album called Joy that he did quite a while back with his wife, Jean Pace and a Brazilian musician named Sivuca. He reminds me of a special time in my personal life, but for those who have never heard him, you should make the effort to listen to some of his work. He was doing some heavy lyrics even before Gil Scott Heron and leaves a legacy that everyone should be aware of.
To sinisterpentatonic: Seeing him live was an EXPERIENCE! I saw the aforementioned Joy, and got on stage at the end along with other audience members to just join the party. It was great!!
Never trust anything spoken in the presence of an erection.
H Michael Frase
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Reply #6 posted 06/05/05 7:49pm

dreamfactory31
3

I am so sad. I didnt hear about it until last night. Where have I been?
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Reply #7 posted 06/06/05 12:56pm

namepeace

Sad, sad, sad indeed.
Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > OSCAR BROWN, JR. DEAD: Jazz Great Died Sunday At Age 78.