Norman Brown (born December 18, 1962) is an American smooth jazz guitarist and singer.
Career Brown was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1962 and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. When he was eight years old, he was attracted to his brother's acoustic guitar. He was inspired by Jimi Hendrix and the Isley Brothers. When he heard Wes Montgomery, he began to play jazz. He attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. After graduating in 1984, he joined the staff and was an instructor until 1998. In 1991, he signed with Mo Jazz, a division of Motown.
In 1992 he released his debut album, Just Between Us. Collaborators included Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder, and Kenneth H. Williams. The album was produced by Norman Connors, a jazz drummer and producer who discovered Brown. In 1994 Brown released the album After the Storm, which gained critical success and was awarded jazz album of the year by Soul Train Music Awards. It also won a Gavin Radio Award by remaining on the charts for over two years. He followed this album with the 1996 release Better Days Ahead, which earned him a broader audience and the American Jazz Award. In 1999, he returned from a three year hiatus and signed with Warner Bros., releasing Celebration, which was produced by Norman Brown, Paul Brown, and Herman Jackson.
In 2002, he formed BWB with saxophonist Kirk Whalum and trumpeter Rick Braun, and they released the album Groovin' . During the summer of 2007, Brown had a No. 1 smooth jazz radio hit, "Let's Take a Ride", from the album Stay with Me, according to Radio and Records magazine. In 2008, the Verve Music Group re-released Just Between Us as part of its "Verve Originals" series. Brown's music can be heard during The Weather Channel's Local on the 8s segments. His song "Lydian" is included in their 2008 compilation album, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II. In 2011, Brown collaborated with Gerald Albright to record 24/7 which had a number one single, "In the Moment", and earned him a Grammy Award nomination.
Accolades
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Brown has won one award out of two nominations. Year Category Nominated work Result2003Best Contemporary Instrumental Album"Just Chillin'"201324/7
Discography YearTitlePeak chart positionsLabelUSUS R&BUS JazzUS Con. Jazz1992Just Between Us—51—4Mo Jazz1994After the Storm1402122Mo Jazz1996Better Days Ahead1623122Mo Jazz1999Celebration—5043Warner Bros.2002Just Chillin'1985032Warner Bros.2004West Coast Coolin' 1602453Warner Bros.2007Stay with Me1071111Peak2010Sending My Love——32Peak201224/7 (with Gerald Albright)——11Concord2017Let It Go——11Shanachie2019The Highest Act of Love——41Shanachie2020Heart to Heart——154Shanachie2022Let's Get Away——n/a8Shanachie2024It Hits Different——n/an/aShanachie"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
as BWB (Braun-Whalum-Brown) YearTitlePeak chart positionsLabelUSUS JazzUS Con. JazzUS Heat2002Groovin' —946Warner Bros.2013Human Nature: The Songs of Michael Jackson184425Heads Up2016BWB—1314Artistry Music/Mack Avenue"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Album Hot R&B/Hip-HopSongs Smooth JazzAirplay Adult R&BAirplay HolidayAirplay 1994 "That's the Way Love Goes" 93 — After the Storm 2000 "You Make Me Feel Brand New" — 39 Celebration "Rain" — 15 2003 "Feeling the Way" — 32 Just Chillin' 2004 "I Might" — 15 West Coast Coolin''' |- | rowspan="3"| 2005 | align="left"| "Angel" | — | | 36
| align="left"| "West Coast Coolin'" | — | 16 | —
| align="left"| "Up 'n' at Em" | — | 38 | —
| rowspan="2"| 2007 | align="left"| "Stay with Me" | 80 | — | 20 | | rowspan="3"| Stay with Me|- | align="left"| "Let's Take a Ride" | — | 1 | —
| 2008 | align="left"| "Pop's Cool Groove" | — | 2 | —
| 2010 | align="left"| "Sending My Love" | — | 2 | — | | rowspan="2"| Sending My Love|- | rowspan="2"| 2011 | align="left"| "Come Go with Me" | — | 15 | —
| align="left"| "Charlie Brown Christmas" | — | — | — | 31 | A MoJazz Christmas, Volume 2|- | 2012 | align="left"| "In the Moment" | — | 1 | — | — | rowspan="2"| Gerald Albright / Norman Brown – 24/7|- | rowspan="2"| 2013 | align="left"| "Champagne Life" | — | 1 | — | — |- | align="left"| "Man in the Mirror" | — | 3 | — | — | rowspan="3"| bwb – Human Nature|- | rowspan="3"| 2014 | align="left"| "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" | — | 1 | — | — |- | align="left"| "Billie Jean" | — | 22 | — | — |- | align="left"| "Second Chances" | — | 19 | — | — | Jessy J – Second Chances|- | rowspan="3"| 2016 | align="left"| "bwb" | — | 1 | — | — | rowspan="3"| bwb – BWB|- | align="left"| "Triple Dare" | — | 1 | — | — |- | align="left"| "I Want You Girl" | — | 4 | — | — |- | 2017 | align="left"| "It Keeps Coming Back" | — | 1 | — | — | Let It Go|- | rowspan="2"| 2019 | align="left"| "The King Is Here" | — | 1 | — | — | rowspan="2"| The Highest Act of Love|- | align="left"| "Peace of Mind" | — | 11 | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2020 | align="left"| "Mo Jazzin" | — | 12 | — | — | Johnny Britt – Mo Jazzin'|- | align="left"| "Heading Wes" | — | 6 | — | — | rowspan="3"| Heart to Heart|- | rowspan="2"| 2021 | align="left"| "Just Groovin'" | — | 1 | — | — |- | align="left"| "Heart to Heart" | — | 15 | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2022 | align="left"| "Back at Ya" | — | 12 | — | — | rowspan="3"| Let's Get Away|- | align="left"| "Easy Livin'" | — | 25 | — | — |- | 2023 | align="left"| "Let's Get Away" | — | 7 | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2024 | align="left"| "Anything" | — | 1 | — | — | rowspan="2"| It Hits Different|- | align="left"| "Strollin'" | — | 3 | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2025 | align="left"| "No Regrets" | — | 3 | — | — | Phylicia Rae – TBD |- | align="left"| "Casual Cool" | — | 2 | — | — | It Hits Different|- | 2026 | align="left"| "Chillax" | — | 2 | — | — | Authentically Norman''"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
See also BWB List of smooth jazz performers
References
External links Official Website Norman Brown at Discogs