- Richard Shaw Brown
Infobox musical artist
Name = Rick Brown
Img_capt = Rick Brown in Bangkok - 2006
Background = Lead Singer - Harmonica Player
Birth_name = Richard Shaw Brown
Alias = Hrisikesh
Born = birth date and age|1947|04|26
Origin =Florida ,United States
Instrument =Harmonica
Genre =Acid rock Progressive rock
Blues rockPsychedelic rock Art rock Hard rock
Occupation =Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1965-1967 / 1982-1985
Label =Fontana Records Cherry Red Records Ugly Things Records
Associated_acts =The Misunderstood
Influence
URL = [http://www.richardshawbrown.com/ richardshawbrown.com]Richard Shaw "Rick" Brown was the lead singer, harmonica player, and co-song writer of the 1966 anti-war Psychedelic rock group,
The Misunderstood [cite book|title=Unknown Legends of Rock n Roll|first=Richie|last=Unterburger|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=May 1998|isbn=978-0879305345] [cite book|title=Like, Misunderstood|first=Mike|last=Stax|publisher=UT Publications|date=September 2007|isbn=0-9778166-1-3] . "The Misunderstood were one of the most innovative and enigmatic bands of the Sixties and one of the psychedelic era's best loved groups." [cite web|title=Review by Terrascope Online – Jan. 2008|url=http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Reviews/Reviews_January08.htm#Misunderstood|accessdate=2008-09-03] Brown's most well-known songs,I Can Take You To The Sun andChildren of the Sun , are consideredpsychedelic music classics [cite journal|title=100 Greatest Psychedelic Records|journal=Record Collector ISSN 1746-8051|year=2005] . While working successfully with the band in London, the group broke-up when Brown was drafted by theUS Army to go to Vietnam, but being opposed to the war, he escaped from boot camp and left the country forIndia [cite web|title=MISUNDERSTOOD Website.|url=http://www.themisunderstood.com/|accessdate=2007-01-19] . "Creem " magazine, in a September 2004 review, write, "The saga of the Misunderstood is one of the most unbelievable, heartbreaking, and unlikely stories in the entire history of rock." [cite book|last=Duff|first=Bruce|title=Creem Magazine: Issue September 2004]India
In 1967 Brown was initiated as "Hrisikesh Das" by
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada [cite web|title=Disciples:H|url=http://www.prabhupada.com/disciple.php?letter=H] He also lived as a monk and received instructions inKrishna bhakti fromSwami Bon Maharaj inVrindavana , U.P., India for six and a half years. [cite book|title=Sri Bepin Sakhi Vilas|author=Lalitananda Vana|year=1971|id=OCLC|31935694 ] . Brown departed from Swami Bon and returned to his original Guru, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in late 1973. He held private discussions in Bengali with Swami Prabhupada, and was instrumental in Prabhupada's translation of "Sri Upadeshamrita" into English [cite book|title=Like, Misunderstood|first=Mike|last=Stax|publisher=UT Publications|date=September 2007|isbn=0-9778166-1-3] . During his time in Asia, Brown learned to speak Bengali, Hindi and Thai, and read Sanskrit and Hindi [cite news|last=Ranard|first=Andrew|title=Gemologist Focuses On the Spiritual|work=International Herald Tribune |date=October 31 ,1994 |pages = 20] .Welfare activities in Asia
During his stay in India with
Swami Bon Maharaj Brown was engaged in the establishment of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Academy, a primary school, in Nandagram, U.P. [cite web|title="True Story Of Krishna's School In Nandagrama" - Vaishnava News Network (VNN) - Feb 4, 1999 Website.|url=http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9902/ET04-2957.html|accessdate=2007-03-03] , as well as expanding the Institute of Oriental Philosophy in Vrindavan, U.P. [cite book|last=Stax|first=Mike|title=Ugly Things (Music) Magazine Issue 22 - 2004|pages = pp. 46] Before returning to America Brown was also instrumental in establishing Sri Hari-siddhi Primary School in Dhulikhel, Nepal, under the direction of the late Nepali sadhu, Sri Hari-siddhi Kali Baba. [cite web|title=Info on schools established by Richard S. Brown|url=http://www.richardshawbrown.com/rsb-schools.html|accessdate=2007-02-18] In 1999 Brown was a co-founder and is currently Acting Secretary of the "Institute of Planetary Gemology" in Bangkok, Thailand, [cite web|title="Vedic Gemology Gets Organized" - Vaishnava News Network (VNN) - Feb 19, 2000 Website.|url=http://www.vnn.org/world/WD0002/WD19-5512.html|accessdate=2007-03-13] a school that teaches theNavaratna system of Asian birthstones [cite web|title=Weblink|url=http://www.p-g-a.org/pga-course.html|accessdate=2007-02-18] . The current status of these 4 schools is active.Through Swami Bon's educational service Brown moved in the highest circles of Indian society, even being received twice by India's President
V.V. Giri at Rastrapati Bhavan in 1972; [cite book|last=Stax|first=Mike|title=Ugly Things (Music) Magazine Issue 22 - 2004|pages = pp. 58] and he successfully organized two high society functions in Bombay and Delhi during 1971-1972 which were supported by India's elite, such as Scindia Shipping Mogul Sumati Morarjee, Industrialist Jai Dayal Dalmia, and Delhi Mayor, Hans Raj Gupta [cite web|title=Weblink|url=http://www.richardshawbrown.com/rsb-events.html|accessdate=2007-02-18] .Amnesty
In 1979, after 12 years in exile, Brown returned to America where he was granted
amnesty as aconscientious objector and discharged from the Army. [cite book|title=Rishi|author=Daniel P. Reid|year=1988] [cite book|title=Screenplay: The Misunderstood WGA 977444|author=Mike Stax|year=2002]Post-Misunderstood music
In 1982, Brown reunited with his steel guitarist,
Glenn Ross Campbell , as "Influence" and recorded two self-penned tracks, viz., No Survivors/Queen of Madness, for UK's Rough Trade Records in 1983. They disbanded in 1985 when Campbell moved to New Zealand and Brown moved to Thailand. [cite web|title=Influence at Rate Your Music|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/influence|accessdate=2007-04-09]In 1998, Cherry Red Records (UK) released a full album of their later material under the name of "The Misunderstood: Broken Road" (CDM RED 147). [cite web|title=Ref. Amazon.com|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000024XZK/|accessdate=2007-01-28] Recently, in 2004,
Ugly Things Records (USA) released another full album of previously unreleased tracks named, Misunderstood: "The Lost Acetates 1965-1966", that received International media coverage. [cite journal|last=Entertainment-Reuters (Yahoo News) |title=New Label Sheds Light on the Misunderstood|journal=Billboard|date=June 18, 2004] [cite journal|last=Rolling Stone Magazine Issue 956|title=The Misunderstood: The Lost Acetates 1965-1966 by David Fricke|date=September 2, 2004]A motion picture screen play (The Misunderstood: WGA 977444) about the Band and Rick Brown's adventures was written by Rock Historian, Mike Stax (Editor of
Ugly Things Music Magazine) in 2002, [cite book|title=Screenplay: The Misunderstood WGA 977444|author=Mike Stax|year=2002] and is under revision.A novel: "Like, Misunderstood" - based on the script was published in October 2007 [cite web|title=Like, Misunderstood web page|url=http://www.themisunderstood.com/like-novel.html|accessdate=2007-09-03] [cite book|title=Like, Misunderstood|first=Mike|last=Stax|publisher=UT Publications|date=October 2007|isbn=0-9778166-1-3] . In a Jan 2008 review Terriscope’s Phil McMullen writes, “"There's no disputing that it's an extremely entertaining read - and I can't wait to see the promised film.” [cite web|title= Terrascope On-line Reviews “Like, Misunderstood” review by Phil McMullen– Jan. 2008|url=http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Reviews/Reviews_January08.htm#Misunderstood|accessdate=2008-09-03] Lenny Helsing review in Shindig Magazine: Jan 2008 writes, “A most engaging and thoroughly fascinating read. It's edge-of-the-seat stuff in a lot of places, and would certainly make for a thrilling and captivating appearance up on the silver screen.”
Musical recognition
*In his "Peelenium" (Greatest Songs of the 20th Century)
John Peel lists Brown's song for 1966, as follows, PEELENIUM 1966: 1. Leonard Cohen - The Sisters of Mercy, 2. The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing, 3. The Misunderstood -I Can Take You To The Sun , 4. Jimi Hendrix - Red House, 5. Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness [cite web|title=Peelenium List|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Simplicius/Peelenium
accessdate=2008-05-13] .
*"I Can Take You To The Sun /Who Do You Love " was number six (ahead of Hendrix and Pink Floyd) in "100 Greatest Psychedelic Records", a 2004 book published by UK'sRecord Collector Magazine [cite web|title=Record Collector Magazine’s 100 Greatest Psychedelic Records: Web link|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/list/LoBee/record_collectors_100_greatest_psychedelic_records__british_/|accessdate=2008-01-06] .
*In September 2004,Rolling Stone Magazine called the Misunderstood, "the American Yardbirds".
*In a recent release of earlyJohn Peel "Top Gear" shows on BBC he is recorded as saying on air, "This ("I Can Take You To the Sun" by The Misunderstood) is to my mind the best popular record that's ever been recorded" [cite book|title=Unknown Legends of Rock n Roll|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=May 1998|isbn=978-0879305345] [cite journal|last=Record Collector Magazine, et al.|title=100 Greatest Psychedelic Records|journal=Record Collector Magazine|date=2004] [cite journal|title=John Peel Quote|journal=Top Gear (BBC Radio)|date=Nov. 8, 1968] .
*Hartbeat! magazine #20: "Top 100 Singles" - lists The Misunderstood.
*British music critic Nigel Cross lists the Misunderstood twice, at third and fourth places (ahead of their mentors, The Yardbirds). [cite web|title=Hartbeat! magazine Top 100s Weblink|url=http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/%7Etommi.s/hb20.htm|accessdate=2007-02-18] .
*Mojo's "100 Greatest Psychedelic Classics" lists The Misunderstood in 1966 [cite web|title=Mojo Weblink|url=http://www.rocklist.net/mojo_p2.htm#psyco|accessdate=2007-02-18] .
*Ptolemaic Terrascope 's Top 100 Albums lists The Misunderstood [cite web|title=Terrascope Top 100 Albums Weblink|url=http://www.terrascope.co.uk/OurMusicPages/ourmusic.htm|accessdate=2007-03-14] .Recent activities
In 1983 Brown graduated from the
Gemological Institute of America . Brown's book "Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans" [cite book|title=Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans|author=Richard Brown|publisher=A.G.T. Co.|year=1995|id = ISBN 9748902242] received the "1996 Benjamin Franklin Award" [cite web|url=http://www.pma-online.org/benfrank.cfm|title= Benjamin Franklin Awards|work=Publishers Marketing Association website|accessdate=2007-01-27] from the "Publishers Marketing Association" (PMA). He is currently working as a gemologist and designer inBangkok ,Thailand , creating fine gems-jewelry based on theNavaratna belief in Planetary Gemology [cite news|last=Ranard|first=Andrew|title=Gemologist Focuses On the Spiritual|work=International Herald Tribune |date=October 31 ,1994 |pages = 20] [cite news|title=The 9 Royal Gems|work=Bangkok Post Newspaper|date=December 1 ,2006 ] [cite news|title=Thai Dealers Designs are Out of This World|work=Jewellery News Asia (Hong Kong)|date=September, 1990] [cite news|title=Profile: Richard S. Brown - Gem Expert Charts Path to the Stars|work=Bangkok Post (Business News)|date=May 19, 1997] [cite news|title=Executive Life Style-The Accidental Gemologist|work=Singapore Business Times|date=October 30, 1993] [cite book|title=Gems Jewelry Looks to the Stars|author=National Jeweler Magazine|publisher=National Jeweler USA|date=1990] [cite book|title=Gemstone Guru|author=Colored Stone Magazine|publisher=Colored Stone USA|date=1996] [cite book|title=Exploding Rock Mythology|author=Hong Kong Standard|publisher=Hong Kong Standard|date=1988] [cite book|title=What’s New In Jewelry|author=Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone|publisher=JCK USA|date=1991] . “Drawn to gemology for over 27 years, Richard Shaw Brown has applied his experience and astrological knowledge, which is Asian by tradition typified by a belief in stars, to the creation of jewelry. The result is a collection of jewelry from nine gemstones known as Astral Gemstone Talismans representing the nine astrological stars.” [cite web|title=Article by Thai Airways Kinaree Magazine|url=http://www.kinnaree.net/WhatNew/ThingsThai/detail.aspx?ContentId=81|accessdate=2008-06-08] Brown has 13 published books. He has appeared on television in Thailand over 36 times. [cite web|title=Thai and English TV appearances|url=http://www.richardshawbrown.com/rsb-tv.html|accessdate=2007-01-30] Over 200 articles about and also by Brown have been published in various magazines and newspapers in Bangkok, Asia and abroad [cite web|title=Magazine and Newspaper Articles about and also by Brown|url=http://www.richardshawbrown.com/rsb-gem-articles.html|accessdate=2007-01-30] [cite book|title=Astral Fashion with Gemstone Talismans|author=Asia Magazine|publisher=Hong Kong|date=1991] [cite book|title=Cosmic Gemstones|author=Asia Magazine|publisher=Hong Kong|date=1992] [cite book|title=Faces of Asia: Richard S. Brown|author=Asia Magazine|publisher=Hong Kong|date=1993] [cite book|title=Top Designer Gives Planetary Gemology Talk|author=Outlook|publisher=The Bangkok Post Newspaper (Thailand)|date=1992] [cite book|title=A New Addition to the Crown Jewels of Thailand|author=Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Magazine|publisher=BGJ Bangkok|date=1993] [cite book|last=Reid|first=Daniel|title=Chi-Gung: Harnessing the Power of the Universe|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=0-684-82125-7|pages = pp. 312] [cite news|last=Amatyakul|first=Sinsap|title=The New Science of Planetary Gemology|work=Outlook in Bangkok Post Newspaper|date=June 1995] [cite book|title=From Monkhood to Astral Gemology|author=Look East (English) Magazine (Thailand)|date=May 1995] [cite book|title=Personalized Planetary Jewelry|author=Jewel Siam Magazine|publisher=Bangkok, Thailand|date=September 1991|pages = pp. 98] .Published books
#Richard Brown (1975). Sri Chinta Mani. Astro Jewels Co. Bangkok, Thailand.
#Richard S. Brown (1982). Handbook of Planetary Gemology. AGS Inc., Laguna Beach, California.
#Richard S. Brown (1988). Handbook of Planetary Gemology II, Mckinney Intl., Hong Kong.
#Richard S. Brown (1995). Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-89022-4-2
#Richard S. Brown (2000). Astral Gemstone Talismans Designs 2000. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-87630-5-6
#Richard S. Brown (2002). Astral Gemstone Talismans 2002. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-88562-9-1
#Richard S. Brown (2003). VOOM Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1633-4
#Richard S. Brown (2004). Six Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-91395-7-7
#Richard S. Brown (2005). Sri Chintamani Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1643-1
#Richard S. Brown (2006). Akash Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-93383-9-1
#Richard S. Brown (2007). Mangala Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1853-1.
#Rick Brown & Mike Stax (2007). Like, Misunderstood. UT Publishing, USA. ISBN 0-9778166-1-3.
#Richard S. Brown (2007). Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans - 2nd Edition. Hrisikesh LTD. ISBN 978-974-8102-29-0References
ee also
*
Navaratna
*Jyotisha
*Gemology External links
* [http://www.themisunderstood.com/ Official Misunderstood website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Simplicius/Peelenium PEELENIUM: Greatest Songs of the 20th Century]
* [http://www.richardshawbrown.com/ Richard Brown's website]
* [http://www.richardshawbrown.com/mysticarticles/index.html Richard Brown's Mystic Articles]
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