Oscar Brown  

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Oscar Brown, Jr (October 10, 1926 - May 29, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist.

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Legacy

Brown's lyrics and original compositions have been performed by a variety of other artists. Nina Simone popularized Brown's lyrics to "Work Song" and "Afro Blue," as well as his song "Bid 'Em In." Brown's "Afro Blue" lyrics have since been performed by numerous contemporary jazz vocalists, including Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Lizz Wright. Vocalist Karrin Allyson has cited Brown as a particular inspiration, and has performed his compositions on several of her albums. Brown was scheduled to contribute new lyrics to Allyson's 2006 album, Footprints, but died before the project was complete; Allyson instead recorded Brown's songs "A Tree and Me" and "But I Was Cool" as a tribute. Brown's work has also been the focus of full-length tribute albums by lesser-known jazz artists, including cabaret singer Linda Kosut and Brown's own daughter, Maggie Brown.

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Publications

Brown wrote at least 1,000 songs (only 125 have been published), twelve albums, and over a dozen musical plays. Paperback book: WHAT IT IS—POEMS AND OPINIONS OF OSCAR BROWN JR., Oyster Knife Publishing (Chicago, Illinois, USA), 2005, 102 pgs., edited by Arthur Ade Amaker and Oscar Brown, Jr.: includes lyrics to some of his better-known songs as well as lyrics to songs Brown never got to record.

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Albums

  • Max Roach: Freedom Now Suite (c. 1959)--lyricist for songs performed by Abbey Lincoln
  • Sin and Soul... and Then Some (1960)--available on CD
  • Between Heaven and Hell (1962)--out of print LP [alternate takes of some tunes appear on Sin and Soul CD]
  • Oscar Brown, Jr. Tells It Like It Is/In a New Mood (1962/63)--two original LP releases combined on single CD
  • "Mr. Oscar Brown, Jr. Goes to Washington" (1964) [live nightclub recording]--available on CD
  • "Finding A New Friend" (w/Luiz Henrique) (1966)-- out of print LP
  • "Joy" (1970)--long out of print LP
  • "Movin' On" (early 1970s)--available on CD
  • "Fresh" (1973)--previously available on CD, apparently out of print
  • "Brother Where Are You" (mid-1970s)--as above for availability
  • "Then & Now" (1995)--released on CD, may be available
  • "Live Every Minute" (1998) [backed by German NDR Big Band]--available on import CD]]]]
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Musicals

  • "Kicks & Co."
  • "Oscar Brown, Jr. Entertains" (one-man show in London, UK)
  • "Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow"
  • "Summer in the City"
  • "Opportunity Please Knock"
  • "Joy '66"; "Joy '69"
  • "Big-Time Buck White"
  • "Slave Song"
  • "Oscar Brown, Jr.'s Back in Town" (won two local Emmys for Chicago TV)
  • "Great Nitty Gritty"
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Songs

  • "The Snake"
  • "Work Song" (lyrics to Nat Adderley's music)
  • "All Blues" (lyrics to Miles Davis' music)
  • "Dat Dere" (lyrics to Bobby Timmons' music)
  • "Afro Blue" (lyrics to Mongo Santamaría's music, sometimes recorded by others without crediting the lyricist)
  • "Signifyin’ Monkey"
  • "Forty Acres and a Mule"
  • "Brother Where Are You"
  • "Brown Baby"
  • "World Full of Gray"
  • "But I Was Cool"
  • "The Tree and Me"
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Media appearances


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