J.T. Brown

Biography

John T. Brown, 2 April 1910, Mississippi, USA, d. 24 November 1969, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Perhaps best known as a member of the classic Elmore James band that also featured Johnnie Jones and Odie Payne, Brown’s quavering tenor saxophone sound was instantly identifiable. His early life is poorly documented but it is known that in his youth he worked with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and spent time in Memphis before moving to Chicago. In the late 40s, his Boogie Band provided support for sessions by Eddie Boyd, Roosevelt Sykes, St. Louis Jimmy and Memphis Jimmy Clarke. He recorded in the early 50s under his own name, with the addition of such sobriquets as ‘Blow It’ and ‘Nature Boy’, for Harlem, United and Premium. ‘Black Jack Blues’ and ‘Dumb Woman Blues’ were each recorded twice. Between 1952 and 1960, he recorded and toured with Elmore James, appearing on definitive versions of ‘It Hurts Me Too’, ‘Dust My...

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