Photo: McOleo / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
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
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- composer / jazz musician / bassist / record producer / double-bassist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Schenley High School
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Paul Acket Award
- NEA Jazz Masters
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Ray Brown born?
October 13, 1926 – July 2, 2002.
Where is Ray Brown from?
Ray Brown is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
What does Ray Brown do?
Ray Brown works as composer, jazz musician, bassist, record producer, double-bassist.
Composer — see all → · Jazz musician — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.