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Our 31st year!
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“ Forget the fact that Jewel Brown has impeccable historical credentials, including a seven-year stint as the show-stealing vocal sensation with Louis Armstrong’s band (1961-68). This artist is fully empowered now—full of voice, verve, and charismatic charms. Though her career began over half a century ago, she remains a major force, a brilliant interpreter of song.”
--Roger Wood, author of Down In Houston: Bayou City Blues
“When Jewel Brown did an informal unaccompanied performance of "Time After Time" at a seminar in New Orleans during "Satchmo Summerfest" a couple of months ago, I hadn't heard her in years.
No warm-up, no nothin,' but WOW! - she was better than ever!”
--George Avakian, Legendary record producer
“She remains as electrifying as she was in her years with Satch”
--Glen Astarita, All About Jazz
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JEWEL BROWN
August 30, 1937 was an exciting night in America as Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight championship for the first time following his defeat of James J. Braddock.
Coincidentally, delivery room doctors and attendants at a hospital in Houston, Texas were so engrossed in listening to a blow-by-blow description of the fight that they placed the name “Onyx” on the birth certificate of the baby girl born that night. The mistake was not noticed until 23 years later. By then Jewel Brown was already making a name for herself in the world of show-business.
Born in humble beginnings and the youngest in her family, Jewel was the proud product of her industrious parents. Her family encouraged her to make the best of her talents and Jewel was always searching for ways to explore and expand her natural talents.
Like so many young Black artists through the years, her first public performances before an audience began in church. Trying her hand at some of the local talent shows, the young girl with the radiant smile and even then surprisingly huge voice was an instant choice for the top trophy. Before she had reached her teens, her natural singing gift had become well-known and made her a “must see” attraction. Under the watchful guidance of her mother, Jewel was soon showcasing entertainment hotspots locally in Houston and throughout Texas. She was already singing professionally and had generated much popularity as “Little Miss Julie Teasin’” as she was then known. By the age of twelve she had become a household word everywhere on the Houston night club scene.
In 1957, on a Los Angeles vacation, she sat in with organist Earl Grant at the Club Pigalle and was hired on the spot that night for an engagement that lasted a whole year. From there Ms. Brown went on to Dallas, Texas to work for a nightclub operator named Jack Ruby. (Yes, that Jack Ruby!) That too lasted for more than a year. While in Dallas, she was discovered by Associated Booking Corporation's (ABC) branch manager, Tony Zoppi, and was hired by the legendary Joe Glaser himself and given the unparalleled opportunity to join either jazz great Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington.
She chose Louis Armstrong and was with Mr. Armstrong from 1961 to 1968. They were sensational years during which Armstrong performed almost continuously both in the U.S. and on four continents. During that time Ms. Brown was immortalized on sound recordings and film. She appears with Louis in the film “Louis Armstrong and theAll Stars” (1961) and in a duet with Armstrong in the film “Solo”, directed by Johnny Winter. Recordings include “The Essential Louis Armstrong”, “Louis Armstrong and His All Stars En Concert avec Europe 1”, “Sleepy Time Down South” and many other live performances with Louis currently available on CD. After world-wide acclaim and exposure with Armstrong (whose ailing health had began to bring a twilight close to his great and illustrious career) she went on to Nevada headlining shows throughout the Nevada casino circuit.
In 1971, after 23 years of performing, Ms. Brown took leave from the stage and returned to Houston to care for her ailing parents. Later, she opened what soon became a very popular barber and beauty shop with her brother Alphonse. Still, entertainment will forever be her first love. She continues to dazzle audiences at local engagements, performances in the United States and on European tours, while continuing to work professionally as an insurance consultant
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