Norman Brown (guitarist)

Last updated
Norman Brown
Born (1970-12-18) December 18, 1970 (age 53)
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres Smooth jazz, jazz-rock, soul jazz, fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1992–present
Labels
Website www.normanbrown.com

Norman Brown (born December 18, 1970) is an American smooth jazz guitarist and singer.

Contents

Career

Brown was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1970 and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. When he was eight years old, he was attracted to his brother's acoustic guitar. He was inspired by Jimi Hendrix and the Isley Brothers. When he heard Wes Montgomery, he began to play jazz. [1] He attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. [1] After graduating in 1984, he joined the staff and was an instructor until 1998. In 1991 he signed with Mo Jazz, a division of Motown. [2]

In 1992 he released his debut album, Just Between Us. Collaborators included Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder, and Kenneth H. Williams. The album was produced by Norman Connors, a jazz drummer and producer who discovered Brown. In 1994 Brown released the album After the Storm, which gained critical success and was awarded jazz album of the year by Soul Train Music Awards. It also won a Gavin Radio Award by remaining on the charts for over two years. He followed this album with the 1996 release Better Days Ahead, which earned him a broader audience and the American Jazz Award. In 1999, he returned from a three year hiatus and signed with Warner Bros., releasing Celebration, which was produced by Norman Brown, Paul Brown, and Herman Jackson.

In 2002, he formed BWB with saxophonist Kirk Whalum and trumpeter Rick Braun, and they released the album Groovin' . During the summer of 2007, Brown had a No. 1 smooth jazz radio hit, "Let's Take a Ride", from the album Stay with Me, according to Radio and Records magazine. In 2008, the Verve Music Group re-released Just Between Us as part of its "Verve Originals" series. Brown's music can be heard during The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s segments. His song "Lydian" is included in their 2008 compilation album, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II . In 2011, Brown collaborated with Gerald Albright to record 24/7 which had a number one single, "In the Moment", and earned him a Grammy Award nomination.

Discography

YearTitlePeak chart positionsLabel
US

[3]

US R&B [4] US Jazz [5] US Con. Jazz [6]
1992 Just Between Us 514Mo Jazz
1994 After the Storm 1402122Mo Jazz
1996 Better Days Ahead 1623122Mo Jazz
1999 Celebration 5043 Warner Bros.
2002 Just Chillin' 1985032Warner Bros.
2004West Coast Coolin' 1602453Warner Bros.
2007Stay with Me1071111Peak
2010Sending My Love32Peak
2012 24/7

(with Gerald Albright)

11 Concord
2017Let It Go11 Shanachie
2019The Highest Act of Love41Shanachie
2020Heart to Heart154Shanachie
2022Let's Get Awayn/a8Shanachie
2024It Hits Differentn/an/aShanachie
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

as BWB (Braun-Whalum-Brown)

YearTitlePeak chart positionsLabel
US [3] US Jazz [5] US Con. Jazz [6] US Heat [7]
2002Groovin' 946 Warner Bros.
2013Human Nature: The Songs of Michael Jackson184425 Heads Up
2016BWB1314 Artistry Music/Mack Avenue
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
Hot R&B/
Hip-Hop
Songs

[8]
Smooth Jazz
Airplay

[9]
Adult R&B
Airplay

[10]
1994"That's the Way Love Goes"93 After the Storm
2000"You Make Me Feel Brand New"39 Celebration
"Rain"15
2003"Feeling the Way"32 Just Chillin'
2004"I Might"15West Coast Coolin'
2005"Angel"36
"West Coast Coolin'"16
"Up 'n' at Em"38
2007"Stay with Me"8020Stay with Me
"Let's Take a Ride"1
2008"Pop's Cool Groove"2
2010"Sending My Love"2Sending My Love
2011"Come Go with Me"15
"Charlie Brown Christmas"A MoJazz Christmas, Volume 2
2012(Gerald Albright / Norman Brown) – "In the Moment"
(Gerald Albright / Norman Brown)
1 Gerald Albright / Norman Brown – 24/7
2013"Champagne Life"
(Gerald Albright / Norman Brown)
1
"Man in the Mirror"
(bwb)
3 bwbHuman Nature
2014"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)""
(bwb)
1
"Billie Jean"
(bwb)
22
"Second Chances"
(Jessy J featuring Norman Brown)
19 Jessy J Second Chances
2016"bwb"
(bwb)
1 bwbBWB
"Triple Dare"
(bwb)
1
"I Want You Girl"
(bwb)
4
2017"It Keeps Coming Back"1Let It Go
2019"The King Is Here"1The Highest Act of Love
"Peace of Mind"11
2020"Mo Jazzin"
(Johnny Britt featuring Norman Brown)
12Johnny Britt – Mo Jazzin'
"Heading Wes"6Heart to Heart
2021"Just Groovin'"1
"Heart to Heart"15
2022"Back at Ya"12Let's Get Away
"Easy Livin'"25
2023"Let's Get Away"7
2024"Anything"1It Hits Different
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Gilbert, Mark (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 323. ISBN   1-56159-284-6.
  2. Birchmeier, Jason. "Norman Brown". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Norman Brown Chart History". Billboard 200 . Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  4. "Norman Brown Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums . Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Norman Brown Chart History". Jazz Albums . Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Norman Brown (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com.
  7. "Norman Brown (Heatseekers)". billboard.com.
  8. "Norman Brown: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard .
  9. "Norman Brown: Smooth Jazz Airplay". Billboard .
  10. "Norman Brown: Adult R&B Airplay". Billboard .