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
Love For Sale
Ray Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
That belong to a lonesome cop
I open shop.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
On the wayward ways of this wayward town.
That her smile becomes a smirk,
I go to work.
Love for sale,
Appetizing young love for sale.
Love that`s fresh and still unspoiled,
Love that`s only slightly soiled,
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who`s prepared to pay the price,
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
Let the poets pipe of love
in their childish way,
I know every type of love
Better far than they.
If you want the thrill of love,
I`ve been through the mill of love;
Old love, new love
Every love but true love
Love for sale.
Appetizing young love for sale.
If you want to buy my wares.
Follow me and climb the stairs
Love for sale.
Love for sale.
The lyrics of Ray Brown's song "Love For Sale" depict a dark and cynical view of love as a commodity that can be bought and sold. The opening lines of the song set the scene of a deserted street, with the only sound being the footsteps of a lonely cop. It is in this quiet, empty space that the singer sets up their shop, selling love to anyone who is willing to pay. The use of the word "shop" in this context is particularly poignant, as it suggests that love has become a product that can be bought and sold like any other commodity.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the various types of love they have experienced, from old love to new love, but notes that they have never found true love. The repetition of the phrase "love for sale" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that love has become a transaction rather than an emotion, and that the only type of love available is one that has been bought and paid for. The final lines of the song invite the listener to follow the singer and "climb the stairs" to purchase their wares, creating a sense of voyeurism and illicitness.
Overall, "Love For Sale" is a commentary on the commodification of love in modern society and the ways in which capitalism has infiltrated even our most intimate relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
When the only sound in the empty street,
I open my shop when there's complete silence except for the stomping of a solitary cop on patrol.
Is the heavy tread of the heavy feet
The police officer is walking with a commanding tread.
That belong to a lonesome cop
The footsteps heard belong to a solitary police officer on duty.
When the moon so long has been gazing down
After the moon has stared for a long time at the restless streets of this bustling town.
On the wayward ways of this wayward town.
Observing the people of this unconventional place with their erratic behavior.
That her smile becomes a smirk,
The moon's expression changes from happy to sly as it watches the residents' actions.
I go to work.
At that moment, I start my business operation.
Love for sale,
I offer love for purchase.
Appetizing young love for sale.
You can buy delectable young love from me.
Love that`s fresh and still unspoiled,
The affection I'm selling is brand new and unblemished.
Love that`s only slightly soiled,
Alternatively, I provide love that has some marks of use.
Love for sale.
My supply of fondness is ready to sell.
Who will buy?
Who among you is interested in making a purchase?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Would you like to try what I have to offer?
Who`s prepared to pay the price,
Who is willing to pay the cost?
For a trip to paradise?
For a journey to an idealistic land?
Love for sale
I am selling love again.
Let the poets pipe of love
Let the poets talk their hearts away about love.
in their childish way,
But they still have a lot to learn about the unfair disposal of love that I sell.
I know every type of love
The various types of love aren't new to me.
Better far than they.
I have a greater understanding of love than any poet.
If you want the thrill of love,
If you're searching for the ecstasy of love,
I`ve been through the mill of love;
I've been experienced in love in all its aspects.
Old love, new love
From ancient love to new, I have everything.
Every love but true love
The only thing you won't find in my supply is genuine love.
Love for sale.
I'm selling love again.
Appetizing young love for sale.
You can buy delectable young love from me.
If you want to buy my wares.
To buy what I have to offer,
Follow me and climb the stairs
Come with me, we'll ascend the stairs together.
Love for sale.
I'm selling love once more.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dontheshark
What a marvelous version. Nobody but Oscar rises to his level.
dave daverson
This is one of his best. Nobody does it like Oscar did. Nobody can hum off key like that while playing and actually make the song even better. A true genius.
- uɐɯllǝפ
dave daverson see Keith Jarrett for some other worldly hum along
Mark Berry
Love this rendition, and Oscar's phrasing, pulling just so slightly on the beat. So glad to have met him backstage and got to thank him for all the wonderful music before he passed - one of a kind!
carl armstrong
Oscar is the very greatest.Practicing 10 hrs a day when he was in Toronto made him incomparable.
Nancy Eckroad-Haney
Thanks for this. No one can compare to Oscar. It's great to hear this jazz GIANT at his youthful vigor! I love his two-handed rolls at 2:44.
nestor torres
Cuando escuché este trío, siendo aún adolescente, quedé impresionado y debo reconocer que Peterson ha sido uno de los pianistas que más he disfrutado, por su técnica exquisita y su gran sensibilidad como acompañante.
Spark _
Oscar Peterson was so keen to music!!! And we were keen to his style...often I heard , or hear any great version of the standards...it's often his & we know that's got to be him by listening.What a true talent & quality he had!
Jorge VERGARA VERGARA
Que trío tan fantástico! ... geniales caray!..en música, para mi, no hay nada mas bello que el sonido del jazz ...
paulos.artes souzasilva
Maravilhoso!!!