Jewel Brown

{{Short description|American jazz and blues singer (1937–2024)|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Jewel Brown

| image = Jewel Brown in New Orleans.jpg

| caption = Brown c. 2004

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|8|30}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|06|25|1937|08|30}}

| death_place =

| genre = Jazz, blues

| occupation = Singer

| years_active = Late 1940s–2024

| associated_acts = Louis Armstrong

}}

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.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2022 |first=Craig |last=Lindsey |title=Houston's Jewel Brown, the 'Beyoncé of her time,' to be honored this weekend |url=https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/music/houston-s-jewel-brown-the-beyonce-of-her-17226654 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Preview {{!}} Houston Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415204324/https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/music/houston-s-jewel-brown-the-beyonce-of-her-17226654 |url-status=live }} Brown was inducted into the Blues Smithsonian Hall of Fame in 2007.{{Cite web |last=Sacksteder |first=John |date=2023-03-13 |title=Jewel Brown – Thanks for Good Ole' Music and Memories {{!}} Album Review |url=https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/jewel-brown-thanks-for-good-ole-music-and-memories-album-review/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Blues Blast Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415204457/https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/jewel-brown-thanks-for-good-ole-music-and-memories-album-review/ |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Brown was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)' category.{{cite web|url=https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees|title=Blues Music Awards Nominees - 2013 - 34th Blues Music Awards|publisher=Blues.org|accessdate=2013-03-21|archive-date=2019-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527214227/https://blues.org/#ref=bluesmusicawards_nominees|url-status=live}}

Early life and education

Brown was born in Houston and her family lived in Third Ward, Houston, where she attended Blackshear Elementary School.{{Cite web |first=Dina |last=Kesbeh |title=Jewel Brown |url=https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/2013/11/jewel-brown-theres-a-light-in-my-life-shining-over-me-2/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=houstonhistorymagazine.org |archive-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415203713/https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/2013/11/jewel-brown-theres-a-light-in-my-life-shining-over-me-2/ |url-status=live }}

Early singing career

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.

As a teenager, Brown continued performing in clubs around Houston and Galveston. She went on to join Louis Armstrong's band in the 1960s.{{Cite web |last=Dansby |first=Andrew |date=2015-03-28 |title=Houston singer Jewel Brown revives her career at age 77 |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/culture/main/article/Houston-singer-Jewel-Brown-revives-her-career-at-6163659.php |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419163152/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/culture/main/article/Houston-singer-Jewel-Brown-revives-her-career-at-6163659.php |url-status=live }}

Death

On June 26, 2024, Brown's publicist announced her death from colon cancer at the age of 86.{{cite web |title=Jewel Brown, Houston-native legendary jazz singer, dies at 86 |url=https://abc13.com/post/jewel-brown-houston-native-legendary-performer-death-jazz/15002760/#:~:text=HOUSTON%2C%20Texas%20(KTRK)%20%2D%2D,86%2C%20her%20publicist%20confirmed%20Wednesday. |website=KTRK-TV |access-date=28 June 2024 |date=26 June 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://abc13.com/post/jewel-brown-houston-native-legendary-performer-death-jazz/15002760/ |title=Jewel Brown, Houston-native legendary jazz singer, dies at 86|website=Abc13.com|date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=June 26, 2024}}[https://houstonlanding.org/keep-a-cool-booty-family-and-friends-remember-houston-jazz-and-blues-singer-jewel-brown/ ‘Keep a cool booty’: Family and friends remember Houston jazz and blues singer Jewel Brown]

Discography

=As leader=

  • Show Time (Fantasy, 1988)
  • Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown (Dialtone, 2012){{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/milton-hopkins-jewel-brown-mw0002355727 |title=Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown |website=AllMusic |accessdate=2013-03-21 |archive-date=2017-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109022950/http://www.allmusic.com/album/milton-hopkins-jewel-brown-mw0002355727 |url-status=live }}
  • Rollercoaster Boogie (Dynaflow, 2014)

=As guest=

With Louis Armstrong

  • Best Live Concert 1: Jazz in Paris (Verve)

Videos

  • With Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong – Live in Australia (DVD) (Euroarts)

References

{{Reflist}}