19 Facts About Marion Brown

Marion Brown was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, writer, visual artist, and ethnomusicologist.

Marion Brown was a member of the avant-garde jazz scene in New York City during the 1960s, playing alongside musicians such as John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and John Tchicai.

Marion Brown was the grandson of an escaped slave from Georgia's Sea Islands.

Marion Brown began studying the saxophone at an early age, inspired by Charlie Parker.

Marion Brown left high school in the 10th grade and joined the army.

Marion Brown was a very beautiful and very smart person.

Marion Brown met Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp, and introduced Shepp to Baraka.

In 1964, Marion Brown performed with Shepp and Bill Dixon in "Four Days in December", a series sponsored by the Jazz Composers Guild.

Marion Brown performed with Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders, and recorded with Burton Greene on the album Burton Greene Quartet.

In 1967, Marion Brown moved to Europe, where he continued performing and recording, and where he developed an interest in architecture, Impressionistic art, African music and the music of Erik Satie.

Marion Brown was an American Fellow in Music Composition and Performance at the Cite internationale des arts in Paris.

In 1970, Marion Brown returned to the United States, settling in Connecticut, where he at first worked in elementary schools, "teaching children how to make instruments and create their own music," and where he continued his musical partnership with Leo Smith.

Marion Brown composed and performed incidental music for a Georg Buchner play, Woyzeck.

In 1972 and 1976, Marion Brown received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, which he used to compose and publish several pieces for solo piano, one of which was based on poetry from Jean Toomer's book Cane.

Marion Brown transcribed some piano and organ music by Erik Satie including his Messe des pauvres and Pages mysterieuses, and arranged the composer's Le Fils des etoiles for two guitars and violin.

Marion Brown spent his final years in an assisted living facility in Hollywood, Florida, where he died in 2010, aged 79.

Marion Brown is survived by his son Djinji Brown and his two daughters, Anais St John and Paloma Soria Brown.

Pianist Amina Claudine Myers' debut album Poems for Piano: The Piano Music of Marion Brown predominantly featured Brown's compositions.

Marion Brown's Name Is Alive performed a tribute concert in 2004, performing solely Brown's music.