User:Adjoajo/sandboxmagbrown

Maggie Brown is a Chicago native, born and raised on the South Side, Chicago, (Hyde Park). She is a performer, vocalist, spoken word artist, actress, music producer, consultant. She sings in various genres; jazz standards, classics, blues, soul, spoken word, and R & B. She uses music to tell stories and to educate. Music is her upbringing. She is the daughter of the late Oscar Brown, Jr. He was a composer and social activist. He was very well known in the field of jazz and story telling. Her singing style described by James Walker, “transcend[ing] limitations and genres, while still maintaining her unique unmistakable voice.” She is a protege of her father Oscar Brown, Jr., and Abbey Lincoln. She uses music to educate, what she calls "edutainment". Edutainment a word that she learned from her father. She gives talks and demonstrations on music, and African American musical history. She performs with her sister Africa Brown.

Oscar Brown, Jr's lyrics to "the Snake", which Donald Trump had been reading at rallies for his bid for presidency of the United State of America. The Brown family asked him to not use their father's song "the Snake". The song is about a woman who takes in an ailing snake that turns on her. The Snake (Al Wilson song) was released by Al Wilson in 1968. It was written in 1963 by Oscar Brown, Jr.

Maggie Brown and Africa Brown stated that when Donald Trump reads "The Snake," that he is referring the snakes as refugees. And that the caring woman being America. They do not approve of the analogy that Donald Trump makes, and it is not what their father intended.

Early Life
Maggie Brown grew up in a musical household, experiencing rehearsals and jam sessions. She studied music, theater and voice at Columbia College in Chicago. Maggie was 15 when she had her professional debut. It was at the Body Politic Theatre in Chicago. Her father Oscar Brown, Jr. was in the audience. She is the sister of Oscar Brown III. He was a well known Jazz basses who performed also with their father. He died in 1996 from a car accident. Oscar Brown III, Maggie and Africa performed with their father.

Career
In 1995 Ms. Brown established her own own independent record label Mag Pie Records. In 1995 she published her first album "From My Window". It was nominated for a Chicago Music Award for for Best Jazz CD in 1995. In 1996 she was nominated for another Chicago Music Award for Best Jazz Performer.

In 1998 she performed at the Schomburg Center in 'Harlem', New York City with her father Oscar Brown, Jr.

In 1999 Maggie does vocal duet with Abby Lincoln on the album "Wholly Earth", released on the Verve label. She has performed duets with Jonathan Butler, on Urban Knights album, Urban Knights II.

Maggie Brown has a travelling one woman show called 'Legacy'. Her one woman show chronicles the history and evolution of African American music. The show encumbers a wide range of musical forms and genres. She has toured for over 19 years with her one-woman show, "Legacy: Our Wealth of Music". She uses art to educate the young and the old about life, history, and music. She collaborated with Abbey Lincoln on a 1999 album called 'Wholly Earth'.

In 2015 the Brown family, and Maggie and Africa Brown performed at the naming of Harper Street, between 52nd and 53rd as Oscar Brown, Jr. Way.

In 2016 Maggie and her sister Africa Brown worked together to revive the Blue Gargoyle; a Hype Park community center. The community center closed in 2009. It provided job training, social services, family counseling, music and art training. The art center dates back to 1965.

The Brown sisters have developed community-based shows. Which is similar to the work that their father did giving exposure to young talent. In 1967 Oscar Brown Jr. collaborated with members of the Blackstone Rangers. The Blackstone Rangers a Gang in Chicago. They collaborated and created a musical called "Opportunity Please Knock". The first weeks of the show about 8,000 people attended which was performed at Chicago's Presbyterian Church.

Awards and Nominations

 * Chicago Music Awards nominated - Her first CD 'From My Window' was nominated for the Chicago Music Award.

Affiliations
Eleven Jazzy Divas Studio Recordings with; Kelan Phil Cohran Ramsey Lewis Stevie Wonder Abbey Lincoln Oscar Brown, Jr (her father)

Quotes
"we need to rearrange be ones to make a change use affirmations when our rap or rhyme begins write lyrics to increase an atmosphere of peace make our expressions bring solutions to the thing"

"It’s hard to separate me from my father, Oscar Brown, Jr. And why would anyone want to.  Being the daughter of a legendary lyricist and performer,  I inherited all the old man’s finest qualities –  the voice, the mannerisms, the spirit, and the theatricality.  It is true - the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree".

"I consider myself a concerned cultural artist, intentionally seeking to influence my audience,  using the transformative  and unifying power of words and music.

It is my intention to inspire a greater sense of responsibility for the positive outcome of our future.

- Maggie Brown