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Donald Brown

b. 1954

American musician

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About Donald Brown

Born 1954. Donald Brown is an American pianist, jazz musician, university teacher, composer and musician.

Donald Ray Brown (born March 28, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and producer.

Biography Brown was born in Hernando, Mississippi, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he learned to play trumpet and drums in his youth. From 1972 to 1975, he was a student at Memphis State University, by which time he had made piano his primary instrument. He was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1981 to 1982, then took teaching positions at Berklee College of Music from 1983 to 1985 and the University of Tennessee from 1988. Brown has recorded for Evidence, Muse, and Sunnyside.

Discography As leader/co-leader Omnibus With Harold Mabern and Charles Thomas trios, A Season of Ballads (Space Time, 1997)

As a member Continuum (With Bill Mobley, Billy Kilson, Essiet Essiet, Gary Bartz and Jean Toussaint) Act One (Space Time, 2004)

As sideman With Art Blakey Killer Joe with George Kawaguchi (Union Jazz, 1981) Keystone 3 (Concord Jazz, 1982) Feeling Good (Delos, 1986)

With Donald Byrd Getting Down to Business (Landmark, 1989) A City Called Heaven (Landmark, 1991)

With others Ricky Ford, Tenor Madness Too! (Muse, 1992) Wallace Roney, Obsession (Muse, 1990)

As producer With Kenny Garrett African Exchange Student (Atlantic, 1990) Black Hope (Warner Bros., 1992) Triology (Warner Bros. 1995) Songbook (Warner Bros., 1997) Seeds from the Underground (Mack Avenue, 2012) Pushing the World Away (Mack Avenue, 2013) Do Your Dance! (Mack Avenue, 2016) Sounds from the Ancestors (Mack Avenue, 2021)

With others Scott Tixier, Cosmic Adventure (Sunnyside, 2016)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Donald Ray Brown

People in Donald Brown's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Donald Brown's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Donald Brown?

American musician

When was Donald Brown born?

Donald Brown was born on 28 March 1954 in Hernando.

What is Donald Brown's occupation?

Donald Brown is a pianist, jazz musician, university teacher, composer and musician.

What nationality is Donald Brown?

Donald Brown is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Donald Brown

· Wikidata: Q1240245

· DBpedia: Donald Brown (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Donald Brown. https://biography.guide/donald-brown-pianist/

MLA: "Donald Brown." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/donald-brown-pianist/.

Chicago: "Donald Brown." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/donald-brown-pianist/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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