1925 -- Roy James Brown Was Born

New Orleans boxer and soul singer Roy James Brown (Good Rockin' Tonight) was born on this day in 1925.

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Brown formed his own gospel quartet, the Rookie Four, and frequently sang in the local church before moving to California in 1942. After two years as a professional boxer, he began entering and winning amateur talent contests with his renditions of the pop songs of his idol, Bing Crosby. He returned to Louisiana in 1945 and formed his first jump band, the Mellodeers, for a long-term residency at the Club Granada in Galveston, Texas. There he worked for some time with Clarence Samuels as a double act, the Blues Twins, and was illicitly recorded by the local Gold Star label. By this time, Brown had eschewed Tin Pan Alley pop for jump blues, and was singing in a highly original style for the time, utilizing his gospel background and his extremely soulful voice.

Mr. Brown died on May 25, 1981 in Los Angeles, California,

Source: http://www.oldies.com/artist/view.cfm/id_6971.html

1925 -- Roy James Brown Was Born

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