dee Brown Bio (scroll down)
A common thread among most successful musical artists is that the inspiration to become great arrived at a young age, and the early history of rhythm and blues guitarist Demitris “Dee” Edwards Brown was no different.
Growing up in Detroit, MI., Brown, the youngest of three children, was exposed to the smooth sounds of jazz as he listened to the legendary recordings of his father’s favorite artists; Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, Les McCann, Cannonball Adderly, King Pleasure and Charles Christian.
When jazz albums weren’t spinning under the family’s turn-table needle, the popular tunes from Motown would resonate from the speakers as Brown’s mother would lay down music from The Four Tops, The Miracles, The Jackson 5 and James Brown. Thus, Brown’s overall musical aptitude would broaden to unlimited heights.
A defining moment in Brown’s musical career occured as early as elementary school when a classmate demonstrated an ability to play back a song heard on the radio with his guitar. Brown, fascinated and inspired, would eventually receive his first guitar as a Christmas present from his grandmother, and immediately took lessons, hoping to become the next B.B. King.
By the time Brown was in high school, he was a polished artist, and formed the group Foreplay. After earning a solid reputation while playing at venues in Detroit , Foreplay drew the attention of producer Quincy Jones, who offered the group a record deal, but Brown declined because of a professional difference of opinion of how the group’s image would be projected by the public.
At that point, Brown enrolled in college where he earned a degree in Biology and Respiratory Therapy. Brown took advantage of his school’s music curriculum, as he studied song writing, classical guitar, piano and vocals. The experience gained from those courses certainly added to Brown’s musical repertoire, as he performed Broadway songs, showcasing his vocal and instrumental talents .
Motivated by great guitarist/vocalists George Benson and Wes Montgomery, Brown’s dedication earned him opportunities to perform with professional bands and acts while completing his education.
After college, Brown formed the group One Wish, whose style was patterned after Boyz II Men and Silk. The trio released its first album on the TRC record label titled “I Feel Like Getting Romantic”. The single “Tell Me Why” became One Wish’s first top 100 recording in the Rhythm and Blues category. The group was also nominated for a Nashville music award, and “Tell Me Why” won the award for the Best Single by a Local Artist at the Metro Times Detroit Music Awards .
Brown continued his success by collaborating with saxophonist Gentry Shelby. The two formed Shelby Brown, and released the TEG Records album written and produced by Brown, “Come Into My Heart” which rose to the top of the of the DMX Smooth Jazz music charts .
The solo “No Time to Waste” was released on Nu Groove/Sony/BMG/ Records in October of 2007. Brown’s skills as a guitarist, composer, producer and arranger were revealed for the first time. Brown's long-time friend & producer Gerald Mitchell of Los Hermanos helped him achieve a sound targeted for Smooth Jazz listeners as guitar and saxophone leads were equally balanced. “No Time to Waste” is currently available on CD or download. Music lovers can locate all his performances a
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