Ronald Brown

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2 Tracks

US saxophonist from Austin, TX (February 28, 1952 Austin, TX – April 14, 2022 Austin, TX).

Ron Brown’s musical career has taken him through many styles of music. His first big break came when he joined The Duke Ellington Orchestra under [a323069]. From Ellington it was on to [a12686], [a47742], [a64805], [a30542], and more. In between these tours, there were countless sessions and television show performances with [a18956], [a60451], [a38863], and [a63628].

After years of being a sideman, Ron embarked on a solo career. His debut CD, [m1366984] was produced by Grammy-nominated guitarist [a206080], and released on [l12892] in 1997. With a desire to take his career to the next level, Ron established his own record label, [l888262]. With that, he produced the critically acclaimed CD, [r7393377], which featured performances by [a257119], [a118554], [a55729], and [a272493] blending the sounds of Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, and Gospel.

The music of his [r13752712] project (2001), showcased Ron’s artistry and reflected his soul, weaving seamlessly through traditional hymns with upbeat contemporary arrangements. His 2003 release [r23886044], continued his quest to uplift hearts and souls.

While on tour with Diana Ross, Brown began recreational drug use, and soon found himself struggling with addiction; in an effort to get clean, he repeatedly checked himself in and out of treatment centers; a struggle which would last 4 years. Family and friends encouraged him to make a more spiritual turn, and in 1991, Brown surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Brown began to study Japanese shortly after embracing his new spiritual life, and even won a speech contest in Little Tokyo, a Japanese American community in downtown Los Angeles. He also formed Ron Brown Ministries in 1999 while on tour in Tokyo, Japan. Ron shared his life changing testimony with the internationally broadcast television program, The 700 Club in 2006.

In between his travels to Japan to further his ministry, Ron produced various projects for other artists, as well as his own solo releases. Never too far away from his “sideman” days, Brown played in the horn section with [a178301] for a performance on The Tonight Show with [a1492380], and in the showband for the CBS Tribute to [a30552], where he played along with such notables as [a57103] and [a25261], and newcomers [a97139] and [a147031].

Ron Brown's last recording was as a sideman on [r21171016] released in 2021.