Texas Johnny Brown

Texas Johnny Brown, born John Riley Brown (February 22, 1928 – July 1, 2013) was an American blues guitarist, songwriter and singer, best known for his composition "Two Steps from the Blues". In a lengthy career, he worked with Joe Hinton, Amos Milburn, Ruth Brown, Bobby Bland, Lavelle White, Buddy Ace and Junior Parker. He was born in Mississippi, but his long association with Houston, Texas, gave him his stage name.

Before his death, Allmusic noted that Brown "remains one of the more immovable veterans dotting the inexplicably low-key Houston blues landscape".

Brown's professional music career started in a band called the Aladdin Chickenshackers, who regularly backed Amos Milburn. He also recorded an unreleased session in Houston for Lola Cullum's Artist Record Company (ARC) in 1950. After three years of military service, ending in 1953, Brown recommenced backing Lightnin' Hopkins. Brown also performed regularly with Junior Parker throughout the 1950s. Brown toured as Bland's lead guitarist in the 1950s and 1960s. He retired in 1991, and formed the Quality Blues Band, with whom he performed up to his death.

In 1996, Brown appeared at the Long Beach Blues Festival. Nothin' but the Truth, which included Brown's version of his song "Two Steps from the Blues", was nominated for a W. C. Handy Blues Award in 1999 as the Comeback Album of the Year.

In September 2001, Brown was named Blues Artist of the Year at the Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton Blues Festival, which took place in Houston. Brown was quoted following an interview in June 2010 with the Valley Morning Star, a Texas newspaper, about his work that "melancholy feelings make good blues music."

In September 2011, Brown's roots were honored with an historical marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Ackerman.

Brown died of lung cancer at his home in Houston, Texas, in July 2013, aged 85.

Discography

Albums