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Milton Brown

Milton Brown (September 8, 1903 – April 18, 1936) was an American band leader and vocalist who co-founded the genre of Western swing. His band was the first to fuse hillbilly hokum, jazz, and pop together into a unique, distinctly American hybrid, thus giving him the nickname, "Father of Western Swing". The birthplace of Brown's upbeat "hot-jazz hillbilly" string band sound was developed at the Crystal Springs Dance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1931 to 1936.

Along with Bob Wills, with whom he performed at the beginning of his career, Brown developed the sound and style of Western swing in the early 1930s. For a while, he and his band, the Musical Brownies, were more popular than Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Brown's career was cut short in 1936 when he died following a car accident.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 7, 1903 (Stephenville), Died April 18, 1936 (Fort Worth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1932 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, director, composer, lyricist, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-70670 10-in. 2/9/1932 Sunbonnet Sue Light Crust Doughboys Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and 2 guitars composer, lyricist, leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-70671 10-in. 2/9/1932 Nancy Jane Light Crust Doughboys Male vocal ensemble, with fiddle (violin) and 2 guitars composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Victor BVE-82795 10-in. 4/4/1934 Brownie's stomp Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with piano leader, composer  
Victor BVE-82796 10-in. 4/4/1934 Joe Turner blues Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with piano leader  
Victor BVE-82797 10-in. 4/4/1934 Oh you pretty woman Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo and piano leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-82798 10-in. 4/4/1934 My precious sonny boy Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo and piano leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-82799 10-in. 4/4/1934 Swinging on the garden gate Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo and piano leader, vocalist, lyricist, composer  
Victor BVE-82800 10-in. 4/4/1934 Do the hula lou Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo and piano leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-82801 10-in. 4/4/1934 Garbage man blues Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo, vocal chorus, and piano leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-82802 10-in. 4/4/1934 Four, five or six times Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies String band, with male vocal solo, vocal chorus, and piano leader, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83860 10-in. 8/8/1934 Where you been so long, Corinne? Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83861 10-in. 8/8/1934 Talking about you Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Vocal and instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83862 10-in. 8/8/1934 Just sitting on top of the world Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83863 10-in. 8/8/1934 Take it slow and easy Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83864 10-in. 8/8/1934 Get along, Cindy Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Vocal and instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83865 10-in. 8/8/1934 Trinity waltz Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Instrumental ensemble director  
Victor BVE-83866 10-in. 8/8/1934 Love land and you Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with talk director, speaker, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83867 10-in. 8/8/1934 This morning, this evening so soon Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Vocal and instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83868 10-in. 8/8/1934 Girl of my dreams Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-83869 10-in. 8/8/1934 Loveless love Milton Brown ; Musical Brownies Vocal and instrumental ensemble director, vocalist  
Brunswick DAL230 10-in. 6/7/1937 Sunbonnet Sue Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys String band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Decca 60610 10-in. 3/3/1936 Somebody's been using that thing Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60611 10-in. 3/3/1936 The Sheik of Araby Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60612 10-in. 3/3/1936 Beale Street Mama Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60613 10-in. 3/3/1936 Mama don't allow it Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60614 10-in. 3/3/1936 Our baby boy Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60615 10-in. 3/3/1936 Mexicali rose Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60616 10-in. 3/3/1936 Stay on the right side sister Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60617 10-in. 3/3/1936 If you can't get five, take two Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60618 10-in. 3/3/1936 Cielito lindo (Beautiful heaven) Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60619 10-in. 3/3/1936 The waltz you saved for me Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60620 10-in. 3/3/1936 The eyes of Texas Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60621 10-in. 3/3/1936 I had someone else before I had you Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60622 10-in. 3/3/1936 I've got the blues for Mammy Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60623 10-in. 3/3/1936 Texas hambone blues Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60624 10-in. 3/3/1936 Easy ridin' Papa Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60625 10-in. 3/3/1936 Am I blue Milton Brown vocalist, leader  
Decca 60626 10-in. 3/4/1936 The wheel of the wagon is broken Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60627 10-in. 3/4/1936 Memphis blues Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60628 10-in. 3/4/1936 Somebody stole my gal Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60629 10-in. 3/4/1936 Under the double eagle Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60630 10-in. 3/4/1936 Washington and Lee swing Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60631 10-in. 3/4/1936 When I'm gone don't you grieve Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60632 10-in. 3/4/1936 The sweetheart of Sigma Chi Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60633 10-in. 3/4/1936 An old water mill by a waterfall Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60634 10-in. 3/4/1936 The hesitation blues Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60635 10-in. 3/4/1936 Avalon Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60636 10-in. 3/4/1936 Sadie Green Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60637 10-in. 3/4/1936 Show me the way to go home Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60638 10-in. 3/4/1936 The yellow rose of Texas Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60639 10-in. 3/4/1936 The Roseland melody Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60640 10-in. 3/4/1936 My Galveston gal Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60641 10-in. 3/4/1936 Yes Sir! Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60642 10-in. 3/4/1936 La Golondrina Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60643 10-in. 3/4/1936 When I take my sugar to tea Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60644 10-in. 3/4/1936 Song of the wanderer-1 Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60645 10-in. 3/4/1936 Right or wrong Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60646 10-in. 3/4/1936 Chinese honeymoon Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60647 10-in. 3/4/1936 Alice blue gown Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60648 10-in. 3/5/1936 Fan it Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60649 10-in. 3/5/1936 Tired of the same thing all the time Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60650 10-in. 3/5/1936 I'll string along with you Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60651 10-in. 3/5/1936 Goofus Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60652 10-in. 3/5/1936 Ida, sweet as apple cider Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60653 10-in. 3/5/1936 When it's harvest time, sweet Angeline Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60654 10-in. 3/5/1936 Carry me back to the lone prairie Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60655 10-in. 3/5/1936 A thousand good nights Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60656 10-in. 3/5/1936 Keep a-knockin' Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60657 10-in. 3/5/1936 Baby keep stealin' Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca 60658 10-in. 3/5/1936 The old grey mare Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca L 9722 10-in. 1/28/1935 The house at the end of the lane Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9691 10-in. 1/27/1935 Put on your old grey bonnet Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9692 10-in. 1/27/1935 Pray for the lights to go out Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9693 10-in. 1/27/1935 In el Rancho Grande Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9694 10-in. 1/27/1935 Down by the O-H-I-O Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9695 10-in. 1/27/1935 I love you Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9696 10-in. 1/27/1935 Sweet Jennie Lee Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9697 10-in. 1/27/1935 A good man is hard to find Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9698 10-in. 1/27/1935 St. Louis blues Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9699 10-in. 1/27/1935 The object of my affection Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9700 10-in. 1/27/1935 Love in bloom Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9701 10-in. 1/27/1935 Chinatown, my Chinatown Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9702 10-in. 1/27/1935 Copenhagen Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9703 10-in. 1/27/1935 Brownie special Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9704 10-in. 1/27/1935 Some of these days Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9705 10-in. 1/27/1935 Wabash blues Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9707 10-in. 1/28/1935 El pajaro cantor Trio Melodias Mexicanas leader  
Decca C 9716 10-in. 1/28/1935 Beautiful Texas Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9717 10-in. 1/28/1935 Just a dream Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9718 10-in. 1/28/1935 Cheezy breeze Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9719 10-in. 1/28/1935 When I'm gone don't grieve Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9720 10-in. 1/28/1935 Who's sorry now Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9721 10-in. 1/28/1935 One of us was wrong Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9722 10-in. 1/28/1935 The house at the end of the lane Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9723 10-in. 1/28/1935 My Mary Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9724 10-in. 1/28/1935 You're tired of me Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9726 10-in. 1/28/1935 I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9727 10-in. 1/28/1935 Sweet Georgia Brown Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9728 10-in. 1/28/1935 Shine on harvest moon Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9729 10-in. 1/28/1935 You're bound to look like a monkey Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9730 10-in. 1/28/1935 Wheezie Anna Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9731 10-in. 1/28/1935 Taking off Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9732 10-in. 1/28/1935 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9733 10-in. 1/28/1935 Crafton blues Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9734 10-in. 1/28/1935 Black and white rag Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9735 10-in. 1/28/1935 In the shade of the old apple tree Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9736 10-in. 1/28/1935 Little Betty Brown Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9737 10-in. 1/28/1935 Going up Brushy Fork Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  
Decca C 9737 10-in. 1/28/1935 Going up Brushy Fork Brownies [Milton Brown] vocalist, leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brown, Milton," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104157.

Brown, Milton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104157.

"Brown, Milton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104157

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