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Artist
Phil Brown
12+ albums
bluesblues rockrockamerican
about
Shortly after Los Alamos National laboratory director Norris Bradbury helped create the atomic bomb, his music teacher wife unleashed another explosive force upon the world: Phil Brown. “Mrs. Bradbury pushed me into being the accompanist for the glee club, which effectively launched my career,” says Brown. If you are asking, “Phil who?” it is because almost a half-century later this virtuoso tonemeister, singer, and songwriter is only just coming into the consciousness of guitar fans, let alone the general public. When Brown’s first record, Cruel Inventions, appeared at the millennium’s turn, the lucky few who heard it were treated to a unique trifecta of Jeff Beck-style whammy work, Bowie-meets- Sinatra vocals, and brilliantly crafted tunes reflecting the artist’s years as a staff writer. “I wanted to get off the road so I spent 1983 to 1986 working for Warner Brothers and two more years with A&M,” recalls Brown. “I had some great instructors teaching me how to break the rules.” Brown’s professional journey began in 1968, with Kansas-based garage band legends, Smack, and later included a tour with members of Little Feat. “Little Feat’s Hoy Hoy! album was released after Lowell George died, and they called me to go on the road,” he says. “Paul Barrere was having vocal problems and couldn’t sing the whole night.” They performed an evening divided into half Phil Brown songs and half Little Feat tunes. After some years lost to an admitted “Behind the Music” lifestyle, Brown fo
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