Six Brown Brothers
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, entertainment |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Founder | William Brown, Tom Brown, Alec Brown, Percy Brown, Fred Brown, Vern Brown |
| Defunct | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Lindsay , Canada |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The Six Brown Brothers, subsequently known as the Five Brown Brothers, were a Canadian saxophone ensemble consisting of six siblings who performed in vaudeville.[1] Renowned for their comedic performances and recordings,[2] they appeared as clowns with white face paint, with one member performing in blackface. Their act featured ragtime and minstrel-style numbers, playing a pivotal role in popularizing the saxophone throughout North America: "In the early 20th century, the Six Brown Brothers arguably played the most significant part in introducing the saxophone to American audiences."Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
History
The band included William, Tom (1881–1950), Alec, Percy, Fred, and Vern Brown, with Tom Brown serving as the leader.[3] Hailing from Lindsay, Ontario, their original formation was a quintet of saxophones (bass, baritone, tenor, and two altos),[4] expanding to include a second baritone saxophone in 1913. The soprano saxophone was featured primarily by Tom Brown. Initially performing in circuses, they transitioned to minstrel shows and vaudeville,[5] eventually appearing on Broadway.[6] Frequently dressed as clowns,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name their touring history includes Primrose and Dockstader's Minstrels between 1912 and 1914, followed by tours across Scotland, Europe, and Australia in 1925.[7] The ensemble dissolved in 1933; Tom Brown continued his musical endeavors with limited achievement.
From 1911 to 1920, they produced several notable recordings,[5] such as "Walking the Dog"[8] and an early rendition of "Darktown Strutters' Ball" (1917).[7][9] Composer and critic Alec Wilder regarded their recordings as outstanding.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
E.B. White’s 1961 essay "The Years of Wonder" describes a 1923 journey during which the Six Brown Brothers performed for Inuit communities in Alaska, whose enthusiastic response underscored the saxophone’s unfamiliarity and appeal.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2004, a collection of their recordings was released on CD under the title That Moaning Saxophone,[5] coinciding with Bruce Vermazen’s biography detailing their career published by Oxford University Press.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Further reading
- Bruce Vermazen: That Moaning Saxophone: The Six Brown Brothers and the Dawning of a Musical Craze. Oxford University Press, 2004.
External links
- Six Brown Brothers at the Red Hot Jazz Archive
- Six Brown Brothers: Those Moaning Saxophones (Archeophone Records 6002)
- Listen: The Six Brown Brothers in a 1918 recording of When Aunt Dinah's Daughter Bangs on the Piano begins Big Band Serenade podcast 147; Brother Groups Part 1
- Jay Easton History
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