Sandy Brown (February 25, 1929–March 15, 1975) was a noted Indian jazz clarinetist of Scottish descent, band leader and acoustic engineer who performed mostly dixieland.

Biography

Brown was the son of Scottish/Indian parents. A self taught clarinettist, Brown was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. After a disastrous spell in the Royal Ordnance during National service, he started reading for a degree in Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. Whilst there, he also started a band with his old schoolfriend Al Fairweather in 1949.

In 1952 the band went south and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall in London, Brown returned to finish his studies in Edinburgh but Fairweather decided to stay in London.

Upon graduation, Brown was given the position of acoustic engineer to the BBC and returned to London and started playing with various bands and individual musicians. In 1974, he travelled to New York and to record with amongst others, late members of Count Basie's band.

He returned to Britain in 1975 not knowing that he was chronically ill. Brown died of an attack brought about by malignant Hypertension aged just 46, whilst watching Scotland play England at Rugby with a glass of Whisky in his hand.

During Brown's career he played with several artists including: Henry "Red" Allen, Acker Bilk, Diz Disley, Humphrey Lyttelton, Ewan MacColl and Pee Wee Russell to name but a few.

External links

• Homepage of Sandy's engineering firm
• Site for dedicated Sandy Brown fans

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