TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Promotional Materials and Reviews
Photographs
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Jewel Brown Collection:
An Inventory of her Records at the Houston Metropolitan
Research Center, Houston Public Library
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| Creator | Brown, Jewel |
| Title | Jewel Brown Collection |
| Inclusive Dates | 1950 to 1988 |
| Bulk Dates | 1960 to 1969 |
| Identification | MSS 337 |
| Extent | 2 document boxes, 1 negative box : 5 lin. ft. |
| Language | Materials are
in English. |
| Repository | Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library |
Jewel Brown is the true to life, born and bred Houston jazz artist. She was born in Houston’s Third Ward August 30, 1937. She attended Black Elementary School and then Jack Yates High School. At an early age she began singing in the choir at Rosehill Baptist Church and first perfomed at the age of nine at the Masonic Temple in the Fourth Ward. Her first professional singing job was at the age of 12 at the Manhattan Club in Galveston.
She continued singing professionally while in school, however her singing was secondary in importance to her studies. Even before she graduated, her vocals were in demand. During her senior year she was invited to accompany Lionel Hampton’s group to tour Europe. Upon graduation it was understood in Ms. Brown’s immediate family that she would pursue a singing career full time, she had decided against college because she felt it would be a burden on her parents. Until that time she sang locally with her brother’s group, performing at clubs with her mother accompanying. When she did begin singing with (all male) groups on tour however, her career was almost stifled by the concerns of an extended family member that the entertainment business was unsavory. Ms. Brown’s mother relented against the cynicism and encouraged her daughter toward her chosen goals.
Ms. Brown is best known as vocalist with Louis Armstrong’s All Star band. Whether or not Ms. Brown would audition for this position was precarious at the time because the former singer for the band had died recently and it wasn’t known how well received Ms. Brown would be under the circumstances. The audition did turn out to be a success and Ms. Brown was soon welcomed into the All Stars. During her career Ms. Brown toured internationally with Armstrong’s band and also performed with Carrol Garner, Earl Grant, Arnett Cobb, as well as many others. She also performed on her own and took responsibility for managing herself. Among the many venues in which she was hired were: the Ebony and Angelo’s in Houston, the Tidelands in San Antonio, and the Sovereign Club in Dallas. In 1971 Ms. Brown retired from singing for 15 years to care for her ailing parents.
When not singing Ms. Brown has owned and operated the Sir Brown’s Hair Palace on Dowling St. in Houston with her brother Alphonse. She has also worked as a successful insurance agent and owns a child care facility. In 1988 Ms. Brown was celebrated as Jazz Artist of the Year at the annual Houston Jazz Festival.
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The Jewel Brown Collection is comprised primarily of photgraphs that span the career of Ms. Brown. There are two oral history interviews of Jewel Brown which are transcribed.
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Arrangement
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| | Series 1: Promotional Materials and Reviews
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| | Series 2: Photographs |
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Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Jewel Brown Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
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| Subjects |
| | Performance artists--Texas--Houston |
| | Singers--Texas--Houston |
| Subjects (People) |
| | Brown, Jewel |
| | Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 |
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Oral History tapes #OH-451 and #OH-452
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Jewel Brown Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Collection donated by Jewel Brown.
Processed by: Charles Stephenson and Tammy Jordan, January 2007.
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Promotional Materials and Reviews
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| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 1 | | This Month in Dallas; Jewel Brown, p. 51 January, 1961 |
| | | Fabulous Las Vegas;March 3, 1962 (2 copies)
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| | | Fabulous Las Vegas; March 17, 1962 |
| | | Souvenir program, Louis Armstrong and His All Star Concert Group, Fresno, California, March 29, 1962. Photographs: Louis Armstrong; Billy Cronk; Trummy Young; Billy Kyle; Jewel Brown; Joe Dariensbourg and Danny Barcelona. |
| | | Souvenir program: Louis Armstrong e son Orchestre, Palais des Expositions, Paris, France; 17 mai 1962. “Satchmo the Great,” a brief biography of Louis Armstrong with selected photographs; other photographs: Danny Barcelona, Billy Cronk and Jewel Brown |
| | | Jerry of Jericho Road, program presented by Jack Yates High School A Cappella choir and Glee club, Wednesday, May 14, 1958 |
| | | The Music Reporter, Vol. VI, No. 31, February 26, 1962 |
| | | Downbeat, Vol. 29, No. 7, March 29, 1962 |
| | | Downbeat, Vol. 30, No. 13, June 6, 1963 |
| | | Souvenir program from Denmark |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 2 | | Zest Houston Chronicle, "Houston Jazz Singer Jewel Brown ends 15 years of retirement" Cover story by Michael Spies August 21, 1988 |
| | | Program, Louis Armstrong, Auditorio Nacional, Mexico, 1961 (2 copies) |
| | | In Sepia Dallas Dec. 2-8; Dec. 9-15; Dec. 16-22; Dec. 23-29 (2 copies) June 2-8, 1961 |
| | | Advertisement: “Louis Armstrong and His All Stars; New Latin Quarter, Magatacha, Chiyodu-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 3 | | Personal letter from Dennis Paget, William Morris Agency; February 5, 1962; Attached is a column by Charley Channel; Sunday News, February 4, 1962 |
| | | Personal letter to Jewel Brown from her Mother, Mrs. Inez K. Brown, February 3, 1962 |
| | | Personal letter from Robert B. Pope, a disable veteran, Dorchester, Massachusetts |
| | | Christmas Card to Jewel Brown from Lucille and Louis Armstrong |
| | | American National Red Cross certification of Jewel Brown having completed a course in first aid, December 14, 1951 |
| | | Handwritten letter authorizing Carl E. Justice III to use Jewel Brown’s picture on advertisements and labels, October 23, 1961 |
| | | Blank contract, AGVA Standard Form of Artists Engagement Contract; American Guild of Variety Artists, National Headquarters, 110 W. 57th Street, New York, New York |
| | | "Roaring 20’s, S.D" Nitery Reviews, Variety February 7, 1963: Review of performance of Louis Armstrong and His All Stars. One paragraph devoted to Jewel Brown; |
| | | "Girl with a Song," music manuscript of song written for Jewel Brown by Jack Oglesby, 138 E. 12th St., Oakland, California |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 4 | | Correspondence: Management Contract Agreement with Sunset Enterprises, 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y., December 13, 1961 |
| | | Contract from Jewel Brown stipulating conditions to Sunset Enterprises to serve as Jewel Brown’s manager and advisor; December 13, 1961; with copies |
| | | Newspaper clippings |
| | | Statement of Account, Dallas Branch, American Guild of Variety Artists, to Jewel Brown |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 5 | | Catalogues of exhibits containing the works of Mrs. Cherry |
| | | Newspaper clippings |
| | | "Louis Armstrong and his All Stars are rocking the Fairmont’s Venetian Room;" Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, California. No date |
| | | "The fabulous Club Ebony presenting special holiday shows: featuring Jewel Brown and Wynonie Harris;" no date; |
| | | "Armstrong and Basie add Female Vocalists" and "Jewel Brown sings with enthusiasm at Basin Street East;" The New York Times; date missing |
| | | Club Ebony advertisement: 4415 Dowling at Rosewood, Houston, Texas, featuring Arthur Prysock Revue; I. H. Smalley Orchestra; Joe Blueitt, M.C.; Jewel Brown et al; newspaper title and date missing |
| | | Club Ebony Advertisement: 4415 Dowling at Rosewood, Houston, Texas; featuring Anita Echols, Jewel “Teasin’” Brown, et al; newspaper title and date missing |
| | | "Old Satchmo’s Hello Dolly Wows ‘Em;" Bill Taylor, Houston Chronicle, date missing |
| | | "High Spirits at the Music Hall;" Review of Louis Armstrong; newspaper title and date missing |
| | | "Ol’ Satchmo Shows off a Jewel;" See Hear, column by Mike Tytherleigh; The Province; Monday, February 12, 1962; contains remarks about Jewel Brown; (2 copies)
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| | | "Armstrong and the All Stars: Louis, the Showman;" Ralph Gleason; newspaper title and date missing |
| | | Newspaper column by Tony Zoppi, Dallas Morning News, Thursday, May 25, 1961; Picture of Jewel Brown and comments about her lucrative offer from Louis Armstrong |
| | | "Old Satchmo Is As Good As Ever;" Daily Telegraph, Sydney, Australia, March 28, 1963 |
| | | "Satchmo Gives With the Smiles and the Blues;"The San Diego Union, Tuesday, February 5, 1963 |
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| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 6 | | "Satchmo gets huge ovation;" John Herron, Staff Reporter, The Albertan (Canada); Friday, January 19, 1968 |
| | | "The Greatest Night For The Cats;"The Domif performance of Louis Armstrong and His All Stars; one paragraph devoted to Jewel Brown |
| | | "Satchmo and Friend," photograph of Jewel Brown performing with Louis Armstrong; Headline: Satchmo, Trumpet in Hand, Says Swings Around World Fun, but Like Leans, Too”; Lewiston (Idaho) Morning Tribune Friday, February 15, 1963 |
| | | Advertisement: "Louis Armstrong and His Concert Group featuring Houston’s own Jewel Brown;" Music Hall, Houston; Houston Post, May 4, 1964 |
| | | "Singing in Public since 12;" Newspaper story about Jewel Brown; The Dominion, Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, March 16, 1963 |
| | | "The X-Factor in Jazz;" Melody Maker Supplement; April 28, 1962 |
| | | "He Blew Up a Furious Musical Storm: Audience Goes Wild over Satchmo;" George Liu, China Mail, Hong Kong, Saturday, April 16, 1963 |
| | | Newspaper story about Louis Armstrong and Jewel Brown; Berlingske Aftenavis, Thursday, August 30, 1962 |
| | | "Blues Singer Began Career at Age of 12" Newspaper story, The Evening Star, New Zealand, March 18, 1963 |
| | | Column: Around Town with Ivan Paul one paragraph devoted to Louis Armstrong and Jewel Brown; San Francisco Examiner, Saturday, January 12, 1963 |
| | | Satchmo Plus Welk – Why Not?” Point of View, column by Donald Freeman, Radio-TV Editor, San Diego Union, Wednesday, November 28, 1963 contains one paragraph about Jewel Brown |
| | | "Voice Ticket for Travellin’ Gal" Terry French; The Province, Saturday, December 15, 1962 |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 7 | | "Louis on short ration says Bob Dawhorn " Melody Maker, May 6, 1962 "A Trumpet, A Smile and Goodwill " The Otaga Daily Times, Monday, March 16, 1963 |
| | | "A Delicious Jazz Banquet" critique, The Otaga Daily Times Monday, March 16, 1963 |
| | | "Jazz at Town Hall, Astonishing Talent by Armstrong" Dunedin, New Zealand Town Hall; The Evening Star, Monday, March 18, 1963 |
| | | " Stor Succe for Armstrong" Aftonbladet, Thursday, May 24, 1962 contains remarks about Jewel Brown; photograph of Jewel Brown with Louis Armstrong in the background |
| | | "From Church Choir to jazz and a Gown Every 3 Songs " Newspaper story about Jewel Brown; The Otaga Daily Times Monday, March 16, 1963 |
| | | "Jazz Corner: Satchmo Held Them In His Hand " Belfast Ireland News-Letter, Thursday, April 26, 1962 ( 2 copies) |
| | | "Who’s Who in Satchmo’s All Stars" Melody Maker (2 copies) |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 8 | | "A Gem of a Twister" a story about Jewel Brown; New Zealand Truth Welling, N. Z., March 19, 1963 |
| | | "Crowd-pleaser Jewel Pleases" Melody Maker, London, May 5, 1962 |
| | | "About Satchmo and His Singer" Point of View column; Donald Freeman, Radio-TV Edictor, San Diego Union, Thursday, February 7, 1963 |
| | | "Satchmo Gives with Smiles and the Blues"San Diego Union Tuesday, February 5, 1963 |
| | | "A Great Show with Satchmo" Nick Lapole, New York Journal American; Friday, December 22, 1961 |
| | | "Voice Ticket for Travelin’ Gal" Terry French, The Province, Saturday, December 15, 1962 |
| | | "Armstrong’s Magic Casts Spell" New Zealand Herald, Friday, March 22, 1963 |
| | | NY Juvel Armstrongs Basta Sangerska; Aftonbladet, Friday, May 25, 1962 |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 9 | | "Rousing ovation for jazz troupe" The Christchurch Star, New Zealand, Monday, March 11, 1963 |
| | | "Armstrong (dyrast I TV) pa ‘straland gott humor"Expressen Lordagen den 26 maj, 1962 |
| | | "Louis Armstrong plante come un roc dans le temps et les modes" Hier soir, au Palis des Expositions a Nice; Nice-Matin; Vendredi, 18 mai, 1962 |
| | | "Armstrong drog 12000 men gjorde knappast succe" one paragraph devoted to “Yngsta medlemmen Jewel Brown; Expressen Thursday, May 24, 1962 |
| | | "Nasduksdrama pa gronan – Louis s-n-o-t sig!"Expressen Thursday, May 24, 1962 |
| | | "‘Loset Sie’ in Zurich: Satchmo durfte nichte rauchen, King of Jazz wie eh und je" Blick, Zurich, Switzerland, April 5; Photograph of Jewel Brown |
| | | "Satchmo Great as Legend About Him"The Evening Post London, Thursday, March 14, 1963 |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 10 | | Billboard Music Week February 24, 1962 |
| | | Concert program in Japanese |
| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 11 | | "Brown and friends gather at Miller Theatre Honoring the crown Jewel of Houston jazz " Tim Carman; The Houston Post Friday, August 26, 1988 |
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Photographs
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| Box | Number |
| 2 | MSS-337.042 | | Louis Armstrong, trumpeter and singer; Jewel Brown in background |
| MSS-337.043 | | Jewel Brown and a fan at The Brant Inn, Ontario, Canada |
| MSS-337.044 | | Louis Armstrong playing trumpet, Norway |
| MSS-337.045 | | Jewel Brown and Trummy Young, Norway |
| MSS-337.046 | | Louis Armstrong and Trummy Young, Norway |
| MSS-337.047 | | Louis Armstrong |
| MSS-337.048 | | Jewel Brown during a performance in Norway |
| MSS-337.049 | | Louis Armstrong: publicity photograph by Associated Booking Corporation, Joe Glaser, President |
| MSS-337.050 | | Jewel Brown and Eddie Curtiss, lyric man; at wedding at Eagle Street home, Houston, Texas. Miss Brown was seventeen years old |
| MSS-337.051 | | Jewel Brown wearing academic cap and gown |
| MSS-337.052 | | Jewel Brown: publicity photograph by Associated Booking Corporation, Joe Glaser, President |
| MSS-337.053 | | Jewel Brown, publicity photograph |
| MSS-337.054 | | Jewel Brown and Howard Duff, actor, Los Angeles, California |
| MSS-337.055 | | Cora Woods who performed with Jewel Brown in San Antonio, Texas. Handwritten message suggests being in a wheelchair later |
| MSS-337.056 | | Jewel Brown; autographed photograph |
| MSS-337.057 | | Louis Armstrong: rear view, nude, in dressing room, New York City |
| MSS-337.058 | | Close-up photograph of Ray Charles during a concert with Louis Armstrong in France |
| MSS-337.059 | | George Gobel, comedian |
| MSS-337.060 | | Autographed photograph of Chuck Edwards, Houston guitarist who recorded exclusively for Duke Records, Houston, Texas |
| MSS-337.061 | | Jewel Brown during a performance at Club Ebony at Dowling and Rosewood Sts, Houston, Texas; in 1988 name changed to Club Supreme |
| MSS-337.062 | | George Gobel, comedian: with personal autograph for Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.063 | | Louis Armstrong, Jewel Brown and Trummy Young, composer of the song “Strange Fruit”, 1961 |
| MSS-337.064 | | Jewel Brown during a performance at the Living Room Club, Chicago, Illinois, 1965-1966 |
| MSS-337.065 | | Jewel Brown at a club in the Catskill Mountains, 1963-1964 |
| MSS-337.066 | | Jewel Brown in her dressing room, Leipzig, Germany, c. 1962-1963 |
| MSS-337.067 | | Eddie Curtis, guitarist, and Jewel Brown’s ex-husband; personal autograph to Jewel Brown, New York City |
| MSS-337.068 | | Jewel Brown, 1958 |
| MSS-337.069 | | Jewel Brown during a performance, 1961 |
| MSS-337.070 | | Jewel Brown during a performance, 1965-1966 |
| MSS-337.071 | | Jewel Brown during a performance, 1963-1964 |
| MSS-337.072 | | Collage of Louis Armstrong and His Band during a performance: nine photographs |
| MSS-337.073 | | Jewel Brown during a performance |
| MSS-337.074 | | Eddie Curtis, guitarist for Decca Records; ex-husband of Jewel Brown; personal autograph to Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.075 | | Eddie “King” Curtis playing vibraphone |
| MSS-337.076 | | Preston Keeling Brown, brother of Jewel Brown; Louis Armstrong; Mildred Brown, wife of Preston Brown and Jewel Brown. Photograph if folding cover from the Chi-Chi Starlite Room, Palm Springs, California |
| MSS-337.077 | | Theater marquee advertising performance of Louis Armstrong and His Band with Jewel Brown as soloist, South America |
| MSS-337.078 | | Souvenir folder from Gerry Dunn’s Pavilion, Bala, Ontario, Canada: crowd listening to Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.079 | | Jewel Brown, publicity photograph |
| MSS-337.080 | | Louis Armstrong playing his trumpet, in Norway |
| MSS-337.081 | | Souvenir folder from Birdland, New York City: Jewel Brown and friend, Alton _____, whom she met in San Francisco, California |
| MSS-337.082 | | missing photograph |
| MSS-337.083 | | Initialized ring of Louis Armstrong on Louis Armstrong’s hand which is holding a cigarette: blurred face in background; somewhere in Scandanavia |
| MSS-337.084 | | Louis Armstrong and His Band in Toronto, Canada: Billy Kyle, piano; Trummie Young, trombone; Jewel Brown, singer; Joe Dannenburg, clarinet; Danny Barcelona, drums; Billy Cronk, bass, with Louis Armstrong, center-left |
| MSS-337.085 | | Jewel Brown during a performance in Europe |
| MSS-337.086 | | A-L Bound album of photographs of Jewel Brown in Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| Box | Number |
| 3 | MSS-337. 001 | | Opinion Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday March 14, 1963; newspaper personal account -Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.002 | | Members of the Louis Armstrong Band: Doc Pugh, Armstrong’s personal valet; Trummy Young, Tombonist; Joe Darrenburgh, clarinetist; and Danny Barcelona. Sun Valley, 1962. In 1988, Danny Barcelona was doing seminars for a drum manufacturing corporation |
| MSS-337.003 | | Preston Brown, brother of Jewel Brown; Louis Armstrong and Jewel Brown; c. 1961or 1962 |
| MSS-337.004 | | Preston Brown, brother of Jewel Brown; Louis Armstrong and Jewel Brown. Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1962 |
| MSS-337.005 | | Inez Keeling Brown, Mother of Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.006 | | Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.007 | | Jewel Brown, age 15 |
| MSS-337.008 | | Jewel Brown, age 7 |
| MSS-337.009 | | Jewel Brown, age 15 |
| MSS-337.010 | | Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.011 | | Billy Kyle, piano; Trummie young, trombone; Billy Cronk, bass; Joe Dannenburg, clarinet: members of Louis Armstrong Band |
| MSS-337.012 | | Jack Carter, comedian |
| MSS-337.013 | | Billy Kyle, piano; Billy Cronk, bass; Joe Dannenberg, clarinet; Danny Barcelona, drums; Louis Armstrong. Sun Valley, Idaho, 1962 |
| MSS-337.014 | | Members of Louis Armstrong Band: Doc Pugh, Armstrong’s personal valet; Trummy Young, trombonist; Joe Dannenburg, clarinet; Danny Barcelona, drums; Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.015 | | Robert Sherman and Louis Armstrong, Sun Valley, Idaho, 1962 |
| MSS-337.016 | | Son of Jewel Brown, age 8 |
| MSS-337.017 | | Trummy Young; Jewel Brown, Billy Kyle; Louis Armstrong; Joe Dannenburg and Danny Barcelona, April, 1962 |
| MSS-337.018 | | Eddie Curtis, guitarist; once married to Jewel Brown; Divorced in 1956 |
| MSS-337.019 | | Buckingham Palace |
| MSS-337.020 | | Louis and Lucille Armstrong |
| MSS-337.021 | | Lola Sung and Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.022 | | Pete Sellers and Jewel Brown |
| MSS-337.023 | | Jewel Brown; postcard photograph |
| MSS-337.024 | | Jewel Brown, postcard |
| MSS-337.025 | | Jewel Brown |
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