Clifford Brown
Biographical Sketch
by David Baker
1930—October 30; born in Wilmington, Delaware.
1945—Father gave him a trumpet when he entered senior high school; studied jazz harmony, theory, trumpet, piano, vibes, and bass with Robert Lowery.
1948—Gigged around Philadelphia; was encouraged and influenced by Theodore “Fats” Navarro.
1949—Awarded a scholarship to Maryland State College.
1950—June; Hospitalized after an automobile accident until May 1951.
1952—March 21; made his first professional recordings in Chicago: Ida Red, I Come From Jamaica, Blue Boy, and Darn That Dream (Ida Red and I Come From Jamaica are now available of Clifford Brown: The Beginning and the End Columbia C-32284).
1952-1953—Toured with Rhythm & blues band of Chris Powell.
1953—Played with Tadd Dameron. Freelanced in New York City, recording with Tadd Dameron, Lou Donaldson, J.J. Johnson, Gigi Gryce, and Lionel Hampton in addition to his own groups. Went to California with Max Roach. From August to December also plaed with Lionel Hampton is a trumpet section which at that time included Quincy Jones and Art Farmer.
1954—February; recorded with the Jazz Messengers of Art Blakey live at Birdland.
Won the New Star Award in the 1954 downbeat Critic's Poll. Engaged in a prodigious amount of recording activity with the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet and various All-Star groups in both Los Angeles and New York City.
1955—Recorded with the Brown-Roach Quintet, with the same group under the leadership of Sonny Rollins (Sonny Rollins Plus Four: Prestige LP 7038, which was also issued as Three Giants: Prestige PR 7821), and with a string orchestra.
1956—June 25; last recording at a jam session at Music City in Philadelphia (Walkin', A Night In Tunisia, and Donna Lee, all of which are on Clifford Brown: The Beginning and The End Columbia C-32284).
June 26; Clifford Brown was killed in an automobile accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
*taken from The Jazz Style of Clifford Brown: A Musical and Historical Perspective by David Baker (Hialeah, Florida: Columbia Pictures Publications, 1982).
