Joe Brown (singer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joe Brown | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 13 May 1941 Swarby, Lincolnshire |
| Genre(s) | Rock |
| Instrument(s) | Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, and Fiddle. |
| Years active | 1960 – present |
| Label(s) | Various |
| Website | http://www.joebrown.co.uk |
Joseph Roger Brown (born 13 May 1941), better known as Joe Brown, is a popular British entertainer of the 1960s and beyond.
Although he was born in Swarby, Lincolnshire, Brown has sustained a career for over 40 years as a cheerful "cockney" rock'n'roll singer and guitarist. He was a popular live and television performer in the late 1950s, a major UK recording star in the early 1960s and is still a well-loved personality into the new millennium.
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[edit] Career
In 1956, Brown formed The Spacemen skiffle group, which became the backing group on Jack Good's top-rated television series Boy Meets Girls in 1959. At this point in his career, Brown was generally regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the UK and his services were frequently in demand.
Rechristened Joe Brown And The Bruvvers, the group joined Larry Parnes' successful stable of artists and signed to Decca Records. He first charted with a unique treatment of "The Darktown Strutters Ball" in 1960 and had a trio of UK Top 10 hits on the Piccadilly label in 1962-63 with "A Picture Of You", "It Only Took A Minute" and "That's What Love Will Do".
Joe Brown was voted the "Top UK Vocal Performer" in 1962 and 1963 by NME magazine. He went on to appear in films, pantomime and stage musicals, notably Charlie Girl in the West End. He presented his own children's television series, Joe & Co, on BBC TV, and a daytime quiz show on ITV called Square One.
In 1972, he formed another band, Brown's Home Brew, which played mainly country music and featured his wife, Vicki Brown, who died of cancer in 1991. Their daughter, Sam Brown, is also a singer.
Brown is proficient on a number of musical instruments, including the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ukulele, mandolin and fiddle.
He was best man at George Harrison's second marriage in 1978. Following Harrison's death from lung cancer on 29 November 2001, he appeared at the Concert for George singing a moving finale of "I'll See You in My Dreams" accompanying himself on the ukulele.
Brown also appeared as a guest musician on one track on Harrison's last album, Brainwashed.
He continues to tour, and performs to both the nostalgia, and retro-loving audience bases. Owing largely to his eternal cheerfulness, he remains a very popular figure, and makes occasional TV guest appearances. He is also currently working on a musical, Don't You Rock Me Daddio, with songwriter Roger Cook. In December 2006, he was one of three special guest hosts of Sounds of the 60s on BBC Radio 2 during the continued absence of long-time host Brian Matthew.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 2004 "I'll See You In My Dreams" - Track Records
- 1999 "On A Day Like This" - Round Tower Music - RTMS9901CD
- 1999 "That's The Way The World Goes Round" - Round Tower Music - RTMS9902CD
- 1997 "Old Chunk Of Coal" - Demon - JBPROMO1
- 1993 "Come On Joe" - Joe Brown Prod'ns - UGCD001
- 1983 "Give Us A Break" - BBC Records - RESL134
- 1981 "Hey Mama" - TFC - TFC1
- 1979 "Free Inside" - Acrobat - BAT10
- 1977 "The Boxer" - Power Exchange - PX252
- 1977 "All Things Bright & Beautiful" - Power Exchange - PX261
- 1976 "Always Laughing" - Pinnacle - P8434
- 1974 "Tennessee Mashman" - Vertigo Records - 6059099
- 1974 "Build A Wall" - Vertigo - 6059110
- 1973 "Hey Mama" - Ammo - AMO101
- 1970 "Molly Perkins" - Penny Farthing Records - PEN718
- 1969 "Sweet Music" / "Suzanne" - MCA Records - MU1082
- 1968 "Bottle Of Wine" - MCA - MU1003
- 1968 "Davy The Fat Boy" - MCA - MU1030
- 1967 "With A Little Help From My Friends" - Pye Records - 7N17339
- 1966 "Sea Of Heartbreak" - Pye - 7N17074
- 1966 "Little Ray Of Sunshine" - Pye - 7N17135
- 1966 "A Satisfied Mind" - Pye - 7N17184
- 1965 "Teardrops In The Rain" - Pye - 7N15784
- 1965 "Sicilian Tarantella" - Pye - 7N15888
- 1965 "Charlie Girl" - Pye - 7N15983
- 1964 "You Do Things To Me" - Piccadilly Records - 7N35163
- 1964 "Don't" / "Just Like That" - Piccadilly - 7N35194
- 1963 "That's What Love Will Do" - Piccadilly - 7N35106
- 1963 "Nature's Time For Love" - Piccadilly - 7N35129
- 1963 "Sally Ann" - Piccadilly - 7N35138
- 1963 "Little Ukelele" - Piccadilly - 7N35150
- 1962 "What A Crazy World We're Livin' In" - Piccadilly - 7N35024
- 1962 "A Picture Of You" - Piccadilly - 7N35047
- 1962 "Your Tender Look" - Piccadilly - 7N35058
- 1962 "It Only Took A Minute" - Piccadilly - 7N35082
- 1961 "Shine" / "The Switch" - Pye - 7N15322
- 1961 "Crazy Mixed Up Kid" - Piccadilly - 7N35000
- 1961 "I'm Henry The Eighth" - Piccadilly - 7N35005
- 1960 "The Darktown Strutters Ball" - Decca Records - F11207
- 1960 "Jellied Eels" - Decca - F11246
- 1959 "People Gotta Talk" - Decca - F11185
[edit] Albums
- 1962 A Picture Of You - Golden Guinea - GGL0146
- 1962 A Picture of Joe Brown - Decca/Ace Of Clubs - ACL1127
- 1963 Joe Brown - Live - Piccadilly Records - NPL8005
- 1963 Joe Brown / Mark Wynter - Golden Guinea - GGL0179
- 1963 Here Comes Joe - Golden Guinea - GGL0231
- 1964 Charlie Girl (orig Cast Rec.) - CBS CBS2627
- 1965 What A Crazy World - Golden Guinea - GGL0272
- 1966 Bits Of Joe Brown - Marble Arch Records - MAL651
- 1968 Joe Brown - MCA Records - MUPS347
- 1972 Brown's Home Brew - Bell Records - BELLS208
- 1974 Together (B. H. Brew) - Vertigo Records - 6360114
- 1974 The Joe Brown Collection - Golden Hour - GH583
- 1977 Joe Brown Live - Power Exchange - PXLS2002
- 1987 Here Comes Joe - Diamond - DLP500
- 1988 Hits'N'Pieces - PRT Records - PYL4017
- 1990 A Golden Hour Of - Knight - KGHCD121
- 1991 Onstage Jet - JETCD1002
- 1993 Come On Joe - Joe Brown Productions - CDUG001
- 1993 The Joe Brown Story - Sequel - NED235
- 1994 Live & In The Studio - See For Miles - C5MCD612
- 1995 A Picture Of You - Entertainment Today - 5507592
- 1997 56 & Taller Than You Think - Joe Brown Productions - FIEND790
- 1999 On A Day Like This - Round Tower Music - RTMCD92
- 2001 A Showbusiness Lifetime - Joe Brown Productions - UGCD003
- 2004 Jiggery Pokery - Joe Brown Productions - UGCD005
- 2004 Hittin The High Spots - Track Records - TRA1051
- 2006 Down To Earth - Track Records - TRA1057
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 14th Edition - ISBN 0-85156-156-X
- The Guinness Book Of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
- Joe Brown - Album Discography (from official Joe Brown website; retrieved 15 Nov., 2006)
