Tony Brown (Originator, Songwriter, Producer, Vocalist, Guitarist and Arranger)
Peter Johnston (Co-Founder of Natty Nation, Drums)
Bruce Alford (Formerly with The Landing Crew, Rob D’s Experience, Bassist)
Dave Stoler (Formerly with The Landing Crew Tony Castenada’s Latin Jazz Band,
Production Keyboardist/ Soloist)
Fred Mosley (Formerly with The Landing Crew. Member of Supa Rankin
High Power Reggae Band, Guitarist, Background Vocalist, Producer)
Photo's by Tony Brown & SweetWmsPics/ Art by Tony Brown
Influences
The band has been influenced by so many styles of music and so many artist that it is almost impossible to pin point one or twenty influences. The styles of music the band incorporates into the original compositions range from Reggae, Ska, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Funk, Latin and Original Expanded style.
The band combines all these styles they are influenced within into each song, into each musical meditation, into each expression within each song.
Music is not explicitly directed at anyone group, it is the individual that separates the music into "like" and "dislike." Music is a gift from a higher power. It is the absolute penetrating force that has no boundaries and no prejudice. It "is" within the world, of the world and for the healing of the spirit of the world.
Tony Brown has opened shows for;
Ziggy Marley*,
The Melody Makers*,
Peter Tosh*,
Jimmy Cliff*,
Taj Mahal*,
Sly & Robbie,
Toots & The Maytals*,
The Twinkle Brothers,
Aswad,
The Mighty Diamonds*,
3rd World/US & Canadian Tours*,
Freddie McGregor,
The Gladiators,
The Itals,
Soul Syndicate*,
Ini Kamoze,
Justin Hinds (& band member)*,
Cornell Campbell*,
Black Uhuru*,
Steel Pulse*,
The Police,
Yellowman*,
Inner Circle,
Richie Havens*,
Lucky Dube',
Luther Allison*,
Sly & The Family Stone,
Burning Spear*,
The Jackson Five,
The Doors,
Sister Carol,
Big Youth,
The Roots Radics,
David Lindley*,
Terrance Simien*,
Bobby McPherson,
Steve Goodman,
Siegel-Schwall Blues Band*(& Studio),
Walter Fury Lewis,
Buddy Guy & Jr. Wells,
Mighty Joe Young,
Albert Kings,
Ray Charles,
Albert Collins,
Koko Taylor*,
Sonny Terry,
Elvin Bishop*,
Squeeze,
Sugar Blue,
Ben Sidran*,
Mason Profit*,
Oregon,
Sonny Stitt,
Richard Thompson,
John Hammond Jr.*,
John Prine*,
Spyro Gyro,
Jim Post*,
Greg Brown,
Michale Urbaniak & Urzula Duziak,
Canned Heat,
Harvey Mandel,
Freddie King,
Jimmy Dawkins*,
Sugar Cane Harris,
Flo & Eddie,
Rosalie Sorrels,
Mimi Farina,
Bill Miller,
Bo Diddley*,
Eddie Shaw,
Michael Damien,
Hound-Dog Taylor & The House Rockers*.
(* = more than once)
Sounds Like
Whew! Sounds like Tony Brown & 608 Riddim Section. Because our music is original...We sound like ourselves and if there are any other bands that sound like us, I haven't heard them yet. The blend is the secret ingredient.
Early in Tony's childhood, there were so many culturally diverse styles of music in his environment which all help to shape the styles of music Tony would perfect in his musical career; Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Calypso, Country Blues, Field Hollers, Gospel.
Tony Brown has been playing music professionally since 1966. He has played many styles of music. He began playing and singing R&B and blues. As his guitar skills improved he branched out and began playing folk, funk, R&B and blues. By the late 1960's Tony began writing original songs. They were basically love songs and anti-war songs and songs of the human struggle being a black man is a racist society. They were the voice of the times, with the anti-war movement going on and the civil rights movement in full swing.
In the late 1960's Tony was drawn into the vocal harmonies of The Impressions, The Temptations, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Parliaments and the vocal qualities of Tyrone Davis, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, Major Lance, The Isley Brothers. Tony performed with the soul review with his older cousins and then became a member of a band called "The IBTC."
Tony stretched out and began playing more guitar and writing more. His style became more folkie and he and former member of IBTC, Doug Freeman joined together to create the duo "Freeman & Brown." They signed a production and publishing deal with Dunwich Production in Chicago. Dunwich was the publisher for such groups as, Mason Profit, Siegel Schwall Band, Alliota-Hayes and Jerimiah and several other reknown Chicago musicians and bands. Tony and Doug moved to Chicago and performed at a lot of the well-known folk rooms of those days; The Earl of Ole Towne, The Quietknight, Ratso's, Somebodyelse's Troubles and Alice's Revisit.
After some time had passed it got hard to make it on the folk scene in Chicago. The duo moved back to Iowa and formed the band "Morning." The band was short lived because some of the musicians were not able to travel to expand their performance radius and make money.
Tony moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in hopes of finding stability in the club and coffehouse circuit of Milwaukee. Tony joined up with some local Milwaukee musicians and they performed as the Hound-dog Band. They signed a booking agreement with Tom Cacalarius and became one of the bands booked by Mike Kappus, who was an agent with tom caclarus at the time. The music scene began to change and ethnically the band was not fulfilling Tony's musical desires and direction so after a year or Tony left the Hound-dog Band and began doing SOLO gigs again. While in Milwaukee, he met up with some old friends from Iowa who were doing an extended house gig at a "jetsetters" bar called "Frenchy's Bulldog Pub." The band was playing more commercial music for that time and some "funk" which was becoming the new thing of the day, "Sly & The Family Stone" was real popular but in some circles not socially acceptable because of the lyrical content of the music. But still that style and type of music was the hot sound of the times. Tony and the band members got to talking and a few months later, Tony joined the band,"Preferred Stock."
Preferred Stock was based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa so Tony had to re-locate back to Iowa with his wife and child. the band was on the road seven month, and sometimes eight month out of the year. The money was definitely better than what Tony had been making before, but it destroyed his marriage. The band played throughout the midwest north and south and Ohio River valley. After a year the band began performing original materials and landed a deal with MGM Lion Records/Clive Davis. This was the big break! The recording went really well and the band was set to launch their big promotional exposure to the United States. The band relocated to Madison, Wisconsin because of the music community and the local gig opportunies that existed there. And because the band did not want to travel as much as they had in the past until the new album had been released. Tony decided to move back to Milwaukee until the new album was released. Before the album could be released, the band was hit with a sucker punch. Clive Davis was implcated in illegal contributions to the Richrad Nixon election fund. All the projects and releases scheduled to be released by MGM/Lion Records were scrapped. The band never recovered from this blow and broke up.
Tony began to play as a SOLO performer and songwriter again. He hooked up with former Fifth Dimension's manager, Tom Gress who owned Studio East in Milwaukee and recorded a LP entitled,"Jersey." Nothing really happened with this release and Tony decided to move to Madiosn to join up with Ted Wingfield long time friend and member of Preferred Stock.
Tony and Ted Wingfield, were dedicated to continuing their music and their original songwriting. Tony had retained a lot of connections with musicians and music people throughout the midwest. Tony and Ted organized a acostic group composed of Tony on acoustic guitar and vocals, Ted on acoustic bass and vocals, high school acquaintance Dave Plaehn on harmonica and voclas and Madisonian Jim "Pie" Cowan to form The Tony Brown Band. Tony was also doing studio work as a vocalist at the time and he was contacted by old friend Corky Siegel to come down to Chicago to record some vocal tracks on his new SOLO album effort,"Out Of The Blue." After recording the tracks, Corky turn Tony and Ted on to some free passes to see a show at The Quiet Knight on Belmont in Chicago. The band that was playing was Bob Marley and The Wailers. This would be a joint to Tony and Ted's consciouness that would reshape the rest of their musical lives. They had already comitted to a path of spiritual opening and musical diversity which sat them in the lap of Reggae music.
Upon returning to Madison, Wisconsin it was obvious they had to put together a full band. The acoustic bands was unique, but it could never capture the full sound that was needed to make the wanted impact on the people. Tony and Ted had also comitted themselves to perforing original music. The next band effort was called "The Tony Brown Band." The band played from the Rockie Mountains to New York, from Minnesota to Jamaica. After a few years, Tony started woking with Rick Murphy and Full Compass recording Studios. They recorded an LP called, Prisoners IN Paradise." The album set around for awhile because there was no deal to be had. Finally out of desperation, Rick Murphy convinced Tony to sign with Mountain Railroad Records/Stephan Powers. The record got raving reviews throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and even in China. Stephan Powers mismanaged the whole success of the album and Tony. He ended up filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Wisconsin and skipping town without paying any royalties and that was that. Tony Brown Band toured for the next 10 years off of the success and publicity of Prisoners In Paradise, but never did another release and eventually broke up out of frustration, broke.
Tony moved to Europe to start over again but that only lasted a year or so before he would return to Madison, Wisconsin to try all over again. After this Tony orchestrated several bands and continued to perform as a SOLO singer/songwriter.
1997
Tony Brown showcased at La Cantina in Cannes, France during MIDEM. Tony was also showcased at The LMNOP Conference in New Orleans and The MRMF Conference in St. Louis. Tony also performed isolated performances in Europe making stops in Holland and France.
1998
Tony performed a majority of his "LIVE" performances as a "solo" artist and based himself in Madison, Wisconsin. He re-organized his backup band and began doing performances throughout the mid-west as "Tony Brown and The Landing Crew," in the latter part of 1998. Tony Brown released his first solo produced recording project, "Culture Mix." The project was recorded, mixed and manufactured in Wisconsin with musicians from around the Wisconsin. The CD release was distributed through the United States and Europe and reached as far as Israel, Greece, Australia, Africa, South America, Asia, Canada and the Caribbean. Tony was a featured showcased at The LNMOP Conference in New Orleans for the second year in a row and participated as a panelist at the conference.
Tony Brown and his company Living Nations Productions was retained as entertainment management for The Angelic Brewing Company in Madison, Wisconsin and orchestrated all "Live" music for the venue. Tony booked and managed promoting all musical events and produced and on-sight managed the events five to six nights a week. Tony introduced Madison to a high quality, diverse musical array and he introduced a long list of Chicago based and regional bands to the Madison area. Living Nations Production and Tony Brown now represented twenty-eight recording/performing artists from The United States, Belize, Cyprus and Canada. Tony Brown coordinated and actualized the first week long celebration of the musical works and life of Bob Marley, which was presented in six different venues on the radios and in all the newspapers in Madison and major cities in the upper Midwest part of the United States. The event was over a six day time period, in five different locations around the city of Madison, Wisconsin.
1999
Tony Brown and Living Nations Production continued to manage "Live" entertainment for The Angelic Brewing Company in Madison. Tony also produced a number of local concert performances featuring international, national, regional and local performing groups and artists. Tony Brown returned to MIDEM World Music Conference and was featured nightly in showcase with Alex Harvey in Cannes, France, and was a featured showcase artist at The LMNOP Conference in New Orleans. He also continued performing as a solo artist, as well as, performing with his backup band, "The Landing Crew," throughout the mid-west.
In March, Tony visited San Pedro, Belize and performed nightly at "Rasta Pasta.”. Upon returning back to the US,Tony created and presented "The Bigback Yard Jam" in Madison, bringing together the best musicians in Madison in a jam band concept, featuring; Roscoe Mitchell, Ben Sidran, Clyde Stubblefield, Paul Black, Jim Schwall, Jan Wheaton, Bruce Alford, Dave Stoler, Aarick Beher, Bob Westfall, Hanah Jon Taylor, David Hecht, Robert Julius Corbit and numerous other talented local musicians.
2000
Tony Brown continued to perform “LIVE” and tour. Living Nations Production/ Tony Brown also continued to manage "Live" presentations at The Angelic Brewing Company in Madison. Tony Brown was also a featured showcase artist at The NEMO Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the House of Blues. He showcased in New York City at The Lion's Den and Sidewalk Cafe "solo."
He created and presented the first "Madison Music Showcase."
Tony Brown recorded and performed with "The Funkmasters" (Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo' Starks formerly of the famous James Brown and The Flames).
Tony Brown performed nightly at Rasta Pasta Rainforest Restaurant in San Pedro, Belize and was featured on Belizean radio in the month of March.
Tony Brown toured with Justin Hinds and The Dominoes from Jamaica and opened shows for Burning Spear from Jamaica.
Tony presented for the second year "The Bigback Yard Jam," featuring local Madison musicians. Tony is touring as a solo artist and with his backup band "The Landing Crew."
2001
Tony Brown performed throughout the upper mid-west.
Tony also began producing a high volume of original acrylic paintings and ink drawings. The focus of 2001 was to dig in the creative chest to see what it may bear.
Tony continued recording a musical project at Aarick Behers Studio in Madison, Wisconsin and began the digital music recording at Surround Sound with Fred Mosley. Tony joined his son-in-law Kevin Burt (of Kevin B.F Burt & The Instigators from Iowa) on several occassions around the mid-west on “LIVE” performance dates.
2002
Tony began the year with a new project with guitarist Chris Aarons and Randy Monagan. Tony also began writing and producing original songs with Fred Mosley (Surround Studio) in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Tony and long time friend Jack LaTourneau began putting some finishing touches on a ,"way" over-due release of some "LIVE" recording done in Madison at The Dane County Auditorium at Paragon Recording in Chicago. Tony had the opportunity to visit Minneapolis, Minnesota and participate in some shows with Wain McFarlane ( Ipso Facto founding father) and Tony perform on select tour dates with Natty Nation from Madison, Wisconsin.
2003
Tony began this year by completing his new CD, entitled Mo' Lotta. The CD consists of twenty-two songs with original art and photo's included in the packaging. Tony Brown and The Landing Crew performed a upper mid-west tour to promote the new release. Tony Brown moved his residents to Door County Wisconsin. Tony continues to perform as a “solo” artist. And is now working on a book, screen play and video. During the fall of 2003 Tony combined forces with the Madison based band Natty Nation and recorded and performed some live shows in the Wisconsin area.
2004
Tony performed throughout the upper mid-west region. Tony and Fred Mosley combined with Natty Nation to perform several shows and a “LIVE” recording. Tony performed in Florida and Belize in the latter winter months of 2004. He relocated to San Pedro Belize and began performing and working at Rasta Pasta in Caye Caulker, Belize Central America
2005
Tony moved from Caye Caulker, Belize, one island over to Ambergris Caye Belize to assist in the opening of a new Rasta Pasta and to pursue more musical exposure to Belize.
After three months of being in San Pedro, Tony was offered an opportunity to perform nightly at Fido’s in San Pedro as a member of the house band. Four months after becoming a house band member, Tony began managing entertainment/PR and publicity for Fido’s. He formed several musical groups to perform at Fido’s. He also worked on promoting Belizean music and the development of a Belizean music industry. He toured in the United States for one month and returned to Belize.
Tony began working on a new recording project incorporating Central American music with American Caribbean and Jamaican music. Tony performed weekly at Fido’s on Ambergris Caye in the town of San Pedro for the remaining part of 2005
2006
Tony presented more indigenous Belizean music and musicians to San Pedro and he performed four nights a week at Fido’s in San Pedro, Belize. He continued to be the Music Director/Manager for Fido’s until May of 2006, at which time, he returned to the United States to pursue some new musical projects and to continue performing and presenting his original art works. Tony also began teaching music and guitar at Johnson School of the Arts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa which continued through the Spring of 2007. He also work with at risk/ high risk
Children at Devonshire School in Waterloo, Iowa. Tony performed the I Wanna Make Iowa A World Festival in Des Moines, Iowa that was co-sponsored by the Iowa Human Rights Commission.
2007
Tony returned to Madison, Wisconsin where he based his music and business in 2007.He organized his new band project,”Tony Brown & 608 Riddim Section.” And he began performing with the band in the upper Mid-west in January of 2007. Tony performed fund raisers for the homeless and food pantries, as well as human right organizations. In May of 2007 Tony and members of The 608 Riddim Section began recording the new CD, “Freedom Beyond Recognition ,” at DNA Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. He also taught music and guitar at Johnson School of The Arts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Throughout the year Tony continued to perform his “SOLO” show throughout the Mid-west. In June Tony was one of the featured artist at The Steelbridge Song Fest hosted by Jackson Browne and Pat MacDonald of Timbuk 3 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin www.steelbridgesonfest.org. Tony Brown & The 608 Riddim Section record the television show Urban Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. Tony opened several major concert dates for international touring Reggae artist. Tony travels between Madison, Wisconsin, Iowa City, Iowa and Chicago working on music projects and performing. He also works as a consultant for artist development and direction, he is a studio musicians. He continues to paint and do art shows, as well as, continuing his writing. In 2007 he finished two screenplay concepts and a rough compilation of poetry, prose and “wordart,” which he hope to have published in the near future.
DISCOGRAPHY
1969/IBTC/High Point Records
1970/Univ. of N. Iowa/Jazz Band/Univ. of Iowa
1970/Fred Blifford/You'll Like Blifford
1971/Flock of Stones/Grammi Phonics
1972/Jersey/Water Street Records
1973/Preferred Stock/MGM Lion Records
1974/Bob Reitman/The Eleventh House
1976/Jamaica/Grammi Phonic
1978/WIBA "Live"/Clone Tone
1980/Out of The Blue/Stuff Records
1982/Prisoners In Paradise/Mountain Railroad
1987/Landing Crew/Living Nations
1992/Landing Crew/Living Nations
1994/Meeting House/Living Nations
1994/Landing Crew/Living Nations
1997/Culture Mix/Living Nations
1999/Funk Masters/Legendary Drummeres of James Brown
Clyde Stubblefield & Jabo Sparks/Smart Studio
2000/Tony Brown/Living Nations
2003/Mo’Lotta/Living Nations
2003/“Live” w/Natty Crew/Surround Studio
2007/Footsteps/Living Nations
AWARDS
National Advertisement Award (JAVAMAN)/1979
Wisconsin Area Industry Award/1988
Mid-West Music Award/1990
Wisconsin Area Industry Award/1993
Best of Madison (Nomination)/1997
Best of Madison (Nomination)/1998
Reader's Choice Awards
Wisconsin State Journal Poll /Best "Solo" Artist/2002
Iowa Music Hall of Fame/2002
This is a list of national and international recording and touring artists Tony Brown has had the privilege of performing on the same bill with as an opening act.
Richie Havens
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Pat McDonald
Steve Goodman
Walter "Fury" Lewis
Sonny Terry
Elvin Bishop
Oceans
Wayne Toupes
Lucky Dube'
Gavin Christopher
Linn County Blues Band
Sugar Blue
Luther Allison
Ben Sidran
Clyde Stubblield/Jabo' Starks
Sly & The Family Stone
Mason Profitt
Stanley Jordan
Burnin' Spear
Oregon
Big Head Todd
Primus & Morephine
The Regulars
Anne Murray
Timbuk 3
Greg Brown
The Jackson Five
Tim Weisburg
Richard Thompson
Sonny Stitt
Roscoe Mitchell
Paul Black
Sister Carol
Big Youth
The Gladiators
The Roots Radics Bob Marley & The Wailers
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
Peter Tosh
Donovan & Foundation
Jimmy Cliff
Taj Mahal
Sly & Robbie
Toots & The Maytals
The Twinkle Bros.
Aswad
The Mighty Diamonds
Third World Band
Freddie McGregor
The Gladiators
The Itals
Soul Syndicate
Ini Kamoze
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes
Cornell Campbell
Rankin' Screw & Ginger
Black Uhuru
Steel Pulse
Blue Riddim
Ipso Facto
Killer Bee's
The Police
David Lindley
Ras Kiddus
Terrance Simien
The Subdudes
Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band
Earl Chinna Smith
Barro
Bobby McPherson
Yellowman
Inner Circle
Carribean All-Stars
The Regulars
Ray Charles
John Hammond Jr.
John Prine
Spyro Gyro
Jim Post
Albert King
Michael Urbaniak
Urzula Duziak
Canned Heat
Harvey Mandel
Freddie King
Jimmy Dawkins
The Doors
Sugar Cane Harris
Flo & Eddie
Rosalie Sorrels
Mimi Farina
Bill Miller
Corky Siegel
Bo Diddley
Albert Collins
Koko Taylor
Hound –dog Taylor
Eddie Shaw
Michael Damien
Firetown/Garbage
Big Twist &The Mellow Fellows
G'day Mr. Tony Brown :) Sending you out the love light sooo very bright, and that all your hopes and wishes come trickling on down from heaven to fill your shoes with so much light and love your feet touch but just enough to keep you standing firmly rooting the beauty that is yours shining out to all who see and meet you.. love peace light unity and goodness your way my friend.. love h
hey Tony! from my count, doing the calculations reading your bio, you've lived approximately 26 lives! not bad! ;).. was great hanging,collaborating w/ you at Steel Bridge. and i've thought about the "being in the swirl" concept a few times since that conversation. i really like that! much love. -c
The Steel Bridge Songfest 2008 was beyond exceptional. It was one of the best experiences I have had in my life. There are five things "OTHER THAN" the birth of my children that are this pronounced in my life. #1 Steel Bridge Songfest 2008 #2 MIDEM in Cannes France (for three years) #3 Steel Bridge Songfest 2007 #4 Tour w/ Taj Mahal #5 Opening for Third World Band's US Canadian Tour some years back
