Kenny Brown

Born on 5 July 1953 in Selma, Alabama, Brown grew up amid the musical traditions of northern Mississippi hill country. Picking up guitar largely on his own, he received guidance and support from his neighbour, the seldom-documented bluesman Joe Callicott. Early in the 1970s, while still employed in construction, he crossed paths with R.L. Burnside and proposed they join forces. From that point he performed alongside Burnside at every opportunity, and he also shared stages with George ‘Mojo’ Buford, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Johnny Woods until the Burnside partnership became his full-time occupation. For a period he and Burnside appeared with Jon Spencer’s punk-blues ensemble. By the early 1990s the pair had become a potent duo, criss-crossing the United States from juke joints to modest festival stages.

An adept slide guitarist whose technique originated early yet, by his own account, gained refinement under Burnside’s influence, Brown commands his instrument with complete assurance. His vocals emerge forceful and plaintive, and his readings carry considerable weight. Much of his material, including pieces absorbed from Callicott, draws on older sources that have evolved across decades; under Brown’s handling these numbers sound newly alive. Among them are “If Down Was Up,” “You Don’t Know My Mind,” “Wretched Mind” and “Lonesome Katy Blues.” He also renders Burnside compositions such as “Miss Maybelle” and “Goin’ Down South,” together with his own pieces “From Now On” and “Hold Me, Baby.” For his self-titled 1997 debut, Brown assembled a band that included part-time players Dale Beavers on guitar and vocals, Terrence ‘T-Money’ Bishop on bass and J. Farrell Bonds on drums. The 2003 successor Stingray featured Takeeshi Imura on bass and Cedric Burnside on drums; R.L.’s grandson had been performing with the Burnside–Brown unit since the age of fifteen.