Kenny Brown (guitarist)

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Kenny Brown (born on the Air Force base in Selma, Alabama, July 5, 1953) is a blues slide guitarist from Nesbit, Mississippi. Skilled in the North Mississippi Hill Country blues style popularized by his mentor R. L. Burnside, Brown began his career by apprenticing with Mississippi Joe Callicott, Johnny Woods, and Mississippi Fred McDowell.[1][2] He has also cited Muddy Waters,[3] Mojo Bufford,[2] Jessie Mae Hemphill,[4][3] Junior Kimbrough,[2] Johnny Winter,[2] and Johnny Shines[2] as influences. He records for the Fat Possum Records label.

In 1971 Brown began performing with R. L. Burnside, who claimed Brown as his "adopted son."[5] and affectionately called him "white boy on guitar"[1] and "my white son."[6] Both Brown and Burnside have noted the singularity of Brown's being a white musician playing in the previously predominantly African American genre of North Mississippi Hill Country blues.[7][1]

Brown's guitar work was featured in the 2006 film Black Snake Moan, where he provided backing for star Samuel L. Jackson's vocals.[8] He can also be seen in the film's climax as a guitarist in a blues band, playing alongside Burnside's grandson Cedric.

He has also performed with rock bands Widespread Panic[1] and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion[2].

Brown currently lives in Potts Camp, Mississippi, in the North Mississippi Hill Country.

[edit] Films

  • You See Me Laughin': The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen (2003; released by Fat Possum Records in 2005). Produced and directed by Mandy Stein. Oxford, Mississippi: Plain Jane Productions, Inc; Fat Possum Records.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Kenny Brown
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thirsty Ear Magazine On-Line: Interviews
  3. ^ a b MySpace.com - Kenny Brown - Potts Camp, Mississippi - Blues / Musique Roots / Americana - www.myspace.com/kennybrownmusic
  4. ^ KennyBrown.Net
  5. ^ Blues on the Edge Kenny Brown
  6. ^ Internet Movie Database entry for Kenny Brown
  7. ^ Interview with Kenny Brown and R. L. Burnside
  8. ^ Kenny Brown (I)

[edit] External links

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