J. T. Brown (April 2, 1918 – November 24, 1969)[1] was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. (Big Boy) Brown and Bep Brown.[2]
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Born John Thomas Brown, in Mississippi, United States, he was a member of the Rabbit Foot Minstrels in the Deep South before heading to Chicago.[2] By 1945, Brown was recording behind Roosevelt Sykes and St. Louis Jimmy Oden, later backing Eddie Boyd and Washboard Sam for RCA Victor. He debuted on record as a bandleader in 1950 on the Harlem record label.[1] Brown, along with Gene Ammons also mentored the, then young, A.C. Reed.[3]
Meteor Records issued a couple of singles under Brown's name during the same timeframe. "Round House Boogie" / "Kickin' the Blues Around" was credited to the Bep Brown Orchestra; whilst "Sax-ony Boogie" was listed as by Saxman Brown and its b-side, the vocal "Dumb Woman Blues," as by J.T. (Big Boy) Brown.[1]
Brown later played and recorded with Elmore James. He also recorded as a leader for several independent record labels, including United and JOB. In January 1969, he was part of Fleetwood Mac's Fleetwood Mac in Chicago/Blues Jam in Chicago, Vols. 1–2 album, singing on one track.[1]
He died in Chicago, Illinois, in November 1969, at the age of 51.[1][2]