Sandy Brown (musician)

Sandy Brown (February 25, 1929–March 15, 1975) was a noted Scottish jazz clarinetist band leader and acoustic engineer who performed mostly New Orleans style and mainstream. He had a particular interest in African music, which was reflected in his compositions.

Biography

Brown was born in India of Scottish parents where his father was a railway engineer. A self taught clarinettist, Brown was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. After National Service he studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. Whilst there, he also started a band with his old schoolfriend Al Fairweather in 1949.

In 1953 the band went south and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall in London, Brown returned to finish his studies in Edinburgh but Fairweather decided to stay in London.

Upon completing his studies, Brown obtained the position of acoustic engineer to the BBC and moved to London and reformed his own band. He also played with other musicians including American pianist Sammy Price. In 1974, he travelled to New York and recorded with other members of Count Basie's band.

In his last months he took an exhausting trip to Africa on architectural business.Soon after he died at home of a heart attack brought about by malignant Hypertension aged just 46, whilst watching England loose to Scotland,a glass of whisky in his hand.

During Brown's career he played with many artists including: Henry "Red" Allen, Diz Disley, Humphrey Lyttelton, Earle Warren Eddie Durham and Pee Wee Russell.

His autobiography "The McJazz Manuscripts" was published by Faber & Faber. He formed two professional practices, Sandy Brown Associates, architects and acoustic engineers, and Sandy Brown MSU, building services engineers

External links

* [http://www.oxforddnb.com/ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
* [http://www.sandybrown.com/ Homepage of Sandy's engineering firm]
* [http://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/index.html Site for dedicated Sandy Brown fans]