Raymond Lee Brown is an American
trumpeter
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard B ...
and
flugelhornist. Brown was a longtime member of the
Earth, Wind & Fire Horns
The Earth, Wind & Fire Horns is the main horn section for the band Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn section has also played alongside artists such as Whitney Houston, P Diddy, Queen Latifah and Kelly Clarkson. The horn section should not be confused ...
.
[
]
Influences
Brown was born and raised in
South Central Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles or simply South Central, is a region in southwestern Los Angeles County, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of downtown.
It is "defined on Los Angeles city maps as a ...
. While in high school, Brown was friends with
Gary Bias
Gary Bias is an American saxophonist, flutist and composer. Bias is a longtime member of the Earth, Wind & Fire Horns.
Overview
He born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Bias began playing the saxophone at the age of 11. He went on to attend ...
,
Gerald Albright
Gerald Albright is an American jazz saxophonist. He earned Grammys for 24/7 in 2012 and Slam Dunk in 2014 and has been nominated for New Beginnings in 2008 and for Sax for Stax in 2009.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, Albright grew up in its ...
,
Patrice Rushen
Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director.
Her 1982 single "Forget Me Nots" received a Grammy Awar ...
, and
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler ( ; July 1, 1952 – February 3, 2018) was an American pop, funk, and jazz drummer. He was also a composer, producer, and university professor.
Biography Early life
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on July 1, 1952, Leon ...
. In the mid 1980s, he became a member of the
Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra or "the Ark", of
South Park, Los Angeles
South Park is a neighborhood within the South Los Angeles region of Los Angeles, California.
Geography
According to the Mapping L.A. project of the ''Los Angeles Times,'' South Park is bordered by Historic South Central on the north, Central- ...
. During 1987 Brown joined
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
alongside two other members of the Ark, saxophonist Bias and trombonist Reggie Young.
Before
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
, Brown was a member of Madagascar, a group composed of
session musicians
Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a t ...
that recorded one album — ''Spirit of the Street'' — under the
Arista label in 1981.
Performances
In 1997, Brown was a member of
Whitney Houston's band on her
Pacific Rim Tour
The Pacific Rim Tour was a concert tour of arenas and stadiums by American Pop/ R&B singer Whitney Houston. The tour included 10 concert dates in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and United States in 1997. The tour was in support of her 19 ...
. Brown was also the solo flugelhorn player for Yanni in 1995 (Yanni: Live at Royal Albert Hall). Brown gave a practically flawless flugelhorn performance of the Yanni composition “Dance With a Stranger.”
Discography
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
* ''
Evil Roy'',
Columbia Records (1987);
* ''
Millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
'',
Reprise Records (1993);
* ''
In the Name of Love'',
Rhino Records
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...
(distributor) (1997);
* ''
The Promise'', Kalimba (2003);
* ''Live by Request,'' SMV Enterprises (2002);
* ''Live in Japan'' (DVD video, CD audio, DVD audio),
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international producer and distributor of music films and programming. It operates two record labels (Eagle Records and Armoury Records), a full-service production company (Eagle Rock Productions) and a music publis ...
(2008);
Sideman with
Patrice Rushen
Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director.
Her 1982 single "Forget Me Nots" received a Grammy Awar ...
(jazz)
* ''
Patrice Patrice is a given name meaning '' noble'' or '' patrician'', related to the names Patrick and Patricia.
In English, Patrice is often a feminine first name. In French, it is used as a masculine first name.
Popularity
In the United States, the pop ...
'',
Elektra Records 6E-160-A (1978);
* ''
Pizzazz
''Pizzazz'' is the fifth album by American singer Patrice Rushen.
Reception
While she was attacked for leaving the jazz genre, Rushen was able to get a good fan base with an R&B/Pop audience. Rushen's profile in the R&B world continued to incre ...
'',
Elektra Records 243 (1979;
* ''
Signature
A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a ...
,''
Discovery Records
Discovery Records was a United States-based record company and label known for its recordings of jazz music.
Discovery was founded in 1948 by jazz fan and promoter Albert Marx. The record label eventually would record jazz notables such as Dizzy G ...
(1997);
* ''
Posh
Posh is an informal adjective for "upper class". It may also refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Posh'' (album), a 1980 album by Patrice Rushen
*" Posh!", a 1968 song from the musical ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang''
* ''Posh'' (2006 TV series), a 2006 Philip ...
,''
Elektra Records (1980);
* ''
Straight From The Heart,''
Elektra Records (1982)
Sideman with jazz artists
*
Donald Byrd, ''
Places and Spaces'',
Blue Note Records BN-XW726-Y (1975);
*
Manfredo Fest, ''Manifestations,''
Tabu Records
Tabu Productions was an American record label founded by Clarence Avant in 1975. The label, Tabu Records, focused on R&B and funk.
Founding
Avant founded the label after Sussex Records went out of business in June 1975. Tabu Record's flagshi ...
JZ35636 (1978);
*
Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...
, ''Land of Passion,''
Columbia Records JC35708 (1979);
*
Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...
, ''Make It Last,''
Columbia Records (1983);
*
Gerald Wilson's Orchestra of the 90s, ''Jenna,''
Discovery Records
Discovery Records was a United States-based record company and label known for its recordings of jazz music.
Discovery was founded in 1948 by jazz fan and promoter Albert Marx. The record label eventually would record jazz notables such as Dizzy G ...
(1985);
*
Norman Brown, ''Just Between Us''
Motown 37463-7000-4 (1992);
*
Norman Brown, ''After the Storm,''
Mo Jazz (1994);
*
Art Porter, Jr., ''
Straight to the Point,''
Verve Forecast 314-517997-2 (1993);
*
George Duke, ''Is Love Enough,''
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
46494 (1997);
*
Vernell Brown, Jr., ''Stay Tuned,''
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
75021-5382-2 (1992);
*
Kiyotaka Sugiyama
is a Japanese singer-songwriter. Sugiyama's career began after joining the band "Kyutipanchosu," and subsequently winning 19th Popcon with the single, "Gospel No Yoru." After being scouted by producer Koichi Fujita, Sugiyama's band became " Kiy ...
, ''Add Water,''
Warner Music Japan Inc. (1994);
* Daryle Chinn, ''From the Heart,''
Motown (1996);
*
Norman Brown, ''Better Days Ahead,''
Motown (1996);
*
Art Porter, Jr., ''For Art's Sake,''
Verve Forecast (1998);
Sideman with
funk,
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...
, and
R&B artists
*
Parlet
Parlet was a female spinoff group from P-Funk formed by veteran background vocalists Mallia Franklin, Jeanette Washington and Debbie Wright. Washington and Wright were the first female members in Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadeli ...
, ''
Play Me or Trade Me Cover art by Ronald "Stozo" Edwards
''Play Me or Trade Me'' is the third and final studio album by the P-Funk spin off act Parlet. The album was released by Casablanca Records in 1980 and was produced by George Clinton and Ron Dunbar. Like many ...
,''
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Republic Records. Under its founder Neil Bogart, Casablanca was most successful during the disco era of the mid to late 1970s. The label current ...
(1980);
*
Con Funk Shun
Con Funk Shun (formerly known as Project Soul) is an American R&B and funk band whose popularity began in the mid-1970s and ran through the 1980s. They were influenced by funk legend James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone. Signed to Mercury ...
, ''
Spirit of Love,''
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it i ...
6337 102 (1980);
* Madagascar, ''Spirit Of The Street,''
Arista Records AL 9565 (1981);
*
Marvin Gaye, ''
In Our Lifetime'',
Tamla
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
T8-374M1
*
Chuck Cissel
Charles Cissel (born October 3, 1948) is an American singer, dancer, director, choreographer and producer. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Universi ...
, ''If I Had The Chance,''
Arista Records (1982)
*
DeBarge
DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. In addition to various solo projects completed by members of the family, DeBarge was active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consisted ...
, ''
All This Love'',
Motown (1982);
*
Billy Griffin
William L. Griffin (born August 15, 1950) is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known for replacing Smokey Robinson as lead singer of The Miracles in 1972.
Biography
Griffin was born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland. He attende ...
, ''Respect,''
Columbia Records FC 38924 (1983);
*
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
, ''
I'm Your Baby Tonight
''I'm Your Baby Tonight'' is the third studio album by American singer Whitney Houston released on November 6, 1990, by Arista Records. The album has been certified quadruple platinum in the US by the RIAA.
Background
By 1989, Whitney Housto ...
,''
Arista Records (1990);
*
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta () (born 25 August 1949) is a Malian singer-songwriter, referred to as the "Golden Voice of Africa". He is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali.
Biography Early life
Salif Keita was born a traditional prince in the village o ...
, ''
Amen
Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...
,''
Mango Records (1991);
*
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! was an American soul/ R&B band from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq ...
, ''
Sons of Soul
''Sons of Soul'' is the third album by American R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, released on June 22, 1993, by Wing Records and Mercury Records. It follows the success of their 1990 album '' The Revival'', which had extended their popularity beyond R ...
,''
PolyGram (1993);
*
Cleopatra, ''
Comin' Atcha!,''
Maverick Records
Maverick was an American entertainment company founded in 1992 by Madonna, Frederick DeMann, and Veronica "Ronnie" Dashev, and formerly owned and operated by Warner Music Group. It included a record label (Maverick Records), a film production ...
(1998);
* Sandro, ''Clásico''
Sony Records (1994);
*
Lou Rawls, ''Seasons 4 U,'' Rawls & Brokaw Records (1998);
*
Lionel Richie, ''
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
'',
Island Records (2000);
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Raymond Lee
American jazz trumpeters
American male trumpeters
Living people
Musicians from Gary, Indiana
Musicians from Indiana
Place of birth missing (living people)
Jacobs School of Music alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
Earth, Wind & Fire members
American male jazz musicians