Photo: McOleo / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on October 13, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, Ray Brown was a composer, jazz musician and bassist. Death is recorded on July 2, 2002, at the age of 75. Ray Brown was educated at Schenley High School. Listed accolades include Paul Acket Award and NEA Jazz Masters.
My Take
Ray Brown sits among the giants for me. The bass is jazz's foundation, and few ever made it sing the way he did across decades with Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald. A founding presence in what became the Modern Jazz Quartet, he shaped the very texture of mid-century jazz from its lowest register. What I admire most is the discipline of an instrument that earns no easy applause yet collapses everything if it falters. The NEA Jazz Masters honor only confirms what the recordings already prove. Brown's groove is timeless, and I doubt I'll ever tire of his unshakable swing.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ray Brown
- Name (Japanese)
- レイ・ブラウン
- Reading
- れい・ぶらうん
- Born
- October 13, 1926 – July 2, 2002
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Tiger
- Origin
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- composer / jazz musician / bassist / record producer / double-bassist
2. Background
- High school
- Schenley High School
Awards & achievements
- Paul Acket Award
- NEA Jazz Masters
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray%20Brown%20(musician)
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%BB%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354542
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Ray Brown born?
Born October 13, 1926.
When did Ray Brown die?
Died July 2, 2002, aged 75.
Where was Ray Brown from?
Ray Brown was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
What did Ray Brown do?
Ray Brown worked as composer, jazz musician, bassist, record producer, double-bassist.
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