1 - American jazz double … Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist named Ray Brown.
1 - American jazz double bassist
2 - Australian singer/guitarist
1. Raymond Matthews Brown (October 13, 1926–July 2, 2002) was an American jazz double bassist.
Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one. With a vacancy in the high school jazz orchestra, he took up the double bass.
A major early influence on Brown's bass playing was the bassist in the Duke Ellington band, Jimmy Blanton. As a young man Ray Brown became steadily more well known in the Pittsburgh jazz scene, with his first experiences playing in bands with the Jimmy Hinsley Sextet and the Snookum Russel band. After graduating from high school, hearing stories about the burgeoning jazz scene on 52nd Street, in New York City, he bought a one way ticket to New York.
Arriving in New York at the age of twenty, he met up with Hank Jones, with whom he had previously worked, and was introduced to Dizzy Gillespie, who was looking for a bass player. Gillespie hired Brown on the spot and he soon played with such established musicians as Art Tatum and Charlie Parker.
From 1946 to 1951 he played in Gillespie's band. Brown, along with the vibraphonist Milt Jackson, drummer Kenny Clarke, and the pianist John Lewis formed the rhythm section of the Gillespie band, and their work together eventually led to the creation of the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Around this time Brown was also appearing in Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts, organised by Norman Granz. It was at these concerts that he met the jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, whom he married in 1947. Together they adopted a child born to Fitzgerald's half-sister Francis, whom they christened Ray Brown, Jr. Fitzgerald and Brown divorced in 1952.
It was at a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in 1949 that Brown first worked with the jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, in whose trio Brown would play from 1951 to 1966. After leaving the Trio he became a manager and promoter as well as a performer.
In 1966, he settled in Los Angeles where he was in high demand working for various television show orchestras. He also accompanied some of the leading artists of the day, including Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, and Nancy Wilson. He also managed his former musical partners, the Modern Jazz Quartet, as well as a young Quincy Jones, produced some shows for the Hollywood Bowl, wrote jazz double bass instruction books, and developed a jazz cello.
It was whilst in Los Angeles that he composed music for films and television shows. He was awarded his first Grammy for his composition, "Gravy Waltz", a tune which would later be used as the theme song for The Steve Allen Show.
In the 1980s and 1990s he led his own trios and continued to refine his bass playing style. In his later years he recorded and toured extensively with pianist Gene Harris. In the early 1980s, he discovered Diana Krall in a restaurant in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
He continued to perform until his death; he died while taking a nap before a show in Indianapolis.
2. Ray Brown & The Whispers were a highly successful Australian rock band from 1964-67. Led by singer Ray Brown, they ranked alongside The Easybeats, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs and Normie Rowe as one of the most popular acts of the period. After a few name and personnel changes which led to short lived incarnations, Ray sought to further/widen his career and in late '67 Ray headed overseas and spent two years working in the U.S.A. which included the recording of a solo album Just Ray Brown for Capitol, produced by American composer arranger producer David Axelrod. Despite the name producer and large budget, it flopped, largely due to poor choices of material by the company. According to a contemporary interview from Go-Set, Ray declared that "Capitol spent $30,000 on it, put in a 30 piece orchestra and then wouldn't let me pick my own material."
3. Ray Brown is from Tallahassee, FL and has been writing songs and performing since 2010. His debut album, CANYON, was released in August, 2012. The East Village arts quarterly, BOOG CITY describes his songs as "funny and tragic at the same time" and The New Yorker dubbed him "a solid songwriter".
https://raybrown.bandcamp.com
Evidence
Ray Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have it all
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
No tengo mucho dinero
I spent it all on rum and cigarettes
No tengo mucho dinero
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Without love there is nothing
Nothing that's worth paying for
Sin amor no hay nada
Nothing that's worth dying for
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
I followed you all the way here
Now I wait for your reply
Tú eres la que me hizo
Y soy tuyo para siempre
Forever
Forever
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
The lyrics to Ray Brown's song "Evidence" can be interpreted as a reflection on the singer's life, possessions, and the value of love. The repeated line "Yo todo lo tengo, I have it all" suggests a sense of contentment or satisfaction with what the singer has. However, the following lines introduce a contrast between material wealth and emotional fulfillment.
The line "No tengo mucho dinero, I spent it all on rum and cigarettes" reveals that the singer may have indulged in temporary pleasures instead of accumulating wealth. This could be seen as a representation of a carefree or reckless lifestyle. The subsequent line "I'm invested in settling all my debts" suggests a desire for financial responsibility, possibly indicating a decision to prioritize resolving past obligations.
The following stanza emphasizes the significance of love in life. The line "Without love there is nothing, nothing that's worth paying for" highlights the belief that love is the most valuable thing worth pursuing or investing in. It suggests that material possessions or financial wealth hold no meaning without love and connection.
The final stanza introduces a shift in perspective, seemingly addressing someone specific. The line "I followed you all the way here, now I wait for your reply" suggests a longing or anticipation for a response or validation from the addressed person. The line "Tú eres la que me hizo y soy tuyo para siempre, Forever, Forever" expresses devotion and a willingness to be theirs forever, emphasizing the importance of this person in the singer's life.
Overall, "Evidence" explores the themes of contentment with one's possessions, the significance of love, and the desire for emotional connection and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
No tengo mucho dinero
I spent it all on rum and cigarettes
Yo todo lo tengo
I am invested in settling all my debts
Without love there is nothing
Nothing that's worth paying for
Sin amor no hay nada
Nothing that's worth dying for
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
I followed you all the way here
Now I wait for your reply
Tú eres la que me hizo
You are the one who made me
Y soy tuyo para siempre
And I am yours forever
Forever
Forever
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Yo todo lo tengo
I have it all
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Stephen Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bongosock
He's such a crowd pleaser :)
@mugrug12
I've got a sneaking suspicion these are the accurate fingerings. I am huge fan of your work!
@codyburson6160
These are all so great !!!!! Great song choices and hilarious videos 😂😂
@mtrsoftwareservices
Another gem 💎!
@user-bv9ln3cm2c
Well, honestly I really like this bass tone.
Nice work!
@lxxwj
ray brown has the best bass tone in jazz
@nebulos0117
Awesome video! I appreciate the hard work you put into these vids. They are hilarious and satisfying to watch!
@BillTscherno
Lieber Robin, ich bin ein neuer Fan. Ein Freund (Bassist) hat mich auf Deine Videos gebracht. Ich bin total begeistert .... und lache mich schlapp. Da steckt viel Arbeit drin, das sieht man.
Super klasse........... bitte weitermachen.
@iancollins407
Not gonna lie! This one is pretty sick!
@BenThompsonJazzStudiesProgram
This is golden!