Oscar Brown Jr., 78 - Jazzman gave back to community

[Jahness]

Oscar Brown Jr.

[Chicago Tribune]

OSCAR BROWN JR., 78
Jazzman gave back to community
By Jamie Francisco
Tribune staff reporter

May 30, 2005

Growing up in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, Oscar Brown Jr. was
taught the importance of giving back to the community, that sharing
your talents is the best way to uplift others.

Mr. Brown's talent was the prolific ability to create. In a career that
spanned more than 50 years, he became a jazz giant, revered as a
lyricist, songwriter, composer, singer and performer.

Mr. Brown, 78, died of complications from a blood infection Sunday,
May 29, in St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago.

"He certainly was a genius," said Joe Segal, owner of the Jazz
Showcase in Chicago and a longtime friend. "He was really a
dramatist. He was more than a vocal artist because his shows
were very easy and dramatic at the same time."

Mr. Brown's father, a real estate agent and lawyer, set an example
of helping others and emphasized showing pride in the community,
especially the black community. Although his father helped others
by finding housing, Mr. Brown saw music and songwriting as a way
to enrich lives, said his son, Napoleon.

At age 15, Mr. Brown made his professional debut on the national
radio show "Secret City." He graduated from Englewood High
School and attended classes at the University of Michigan and
Lincoln University, a small college in Pennsylvania. He never
finished his degree, instead concentrating on writing songs
and musicals.

"He found his niche early on in life," his son said.

Mr. Brown released his first album, "Sin and Soul," in 1960 and
received glorious reviews as an emerging jazz musician, said his
daughter Maggie, who performed beside him for many years.

"He enlivened the music," she said. "He painted pictures with his
songs, poetry. He could really deliver a lyric."

In the 1960s, Mr. Brown hosted "Jazz Scene U.S.A.," a television
program broadcast from the West Coast that introduced jazz to
a nationwide audience. As his success grew, writing musicals
such as "Kicks and Company" and "Great Nitty Gritty," Mr. Brown
remembered to reach back to the community. He worked with
gang members, sometimes casting them in productions after
discovering they could sing, his son said.

Mr. Brown said, "I want people to be `hip,'" according to his son.
"He said, `I want `hip' to stand for human improvement potential
because every human has some potential within them.'"

During his career, Mr. Brown wrote more than 1,000 songs, 125
of which were published, his son said. Despite the respect he
received from the jazz community, his family never felt he received
adequate acknowledgment from the recording industry.

"He spoke very candidly about the situation in America in terms of
racism and politics," his daughter said. "If you don't fit the mold in
the industry, then they don't use you."

Still, Mr. Brown continued to write and perform. A documentary about
his life and a book of his poetry are scheduled to be released in the fall.

His daughter said she enjoyed performing best with her father.
"Sometimes things might have been helter-skelter, but things
always came off very polished when you hit the stage. It was
magical."

Other survivors include his wife, Jean Pace Brown; three other
daughters, Donna Kane, Iantha Casen and Africa; 16 grandchildren;
and four great-grandchildren. Servicesare pending.

[nattyreb]

i loved him deeply, this is painful for many. We can still experience him at his site, tho (www.oscarbrownjr.com) altho it can't completely capture his essence. Asante sana, sis :sad:

[Jahness]

Greetings nattyreb!

Great seeing you as usual. Yes, beloved sister I know how you feel.

A lot of our people really loved this exceptional man. He will truly
be missed.

He was committed, he was honest and he cared.

His music will live on forever, and his legacy is well known.

Thank you for providing the very valuable additional link.

May the Ancestors guide him as he makes his journey home.

Much appreciation sister for sharing.

Stay Blessed.

[Jahness]

Greetings Everyone!




Bump! Bump! Bump!

<^>^<^>^<^>^<^>^<^><^>

[Akyeame Kwame]

peace Jahness,

i didn't know about this...i've been out of town...

hmmm...my brother Kweku is one of his biggest fans since he did "Spirit of the Dead Rise Up" in Sankofa...he would relate every conversation to Oscar Brown Jr. i just forwarded this to him...

thanks for the information,

this is very sad news indeed...

AK

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by Akyeame Kwame

peace Jahness,

i didn't know about this...i've been out of town...

hmmm...my brother Kweku is one of his biggest fans since he did "Spirit of the Dead Rise Up" in Sankofa...he would relate every conversation to Oscar Brown Jr. i just forwarded this to him...

thanks for the information,

this is very sad news indeed...

AK

Greetings Akyeame!

Welcome forward brother Akyeame!

It's very sad news to know that we lost such a valuable person.

Oscar will be truly missed, by all Afrikans. I know a lot of people who
are saddened by this great lost to our community. His contributions
in all aspects of his life was and will never be forgotten.

He made a difference in the lives of a lot of people, whether in his
music, or his activism. He was a true warrior.

May Olodumare/ Ancestors/Eguns, and the Orisha's grant his family
the strength to go through their time of sorrow. May they be
eternally blessed.

May the Ancestors guide and protect him as he makes his journey.

Peace & Blessings my brother.