Tony Brown
Biography
Tony Brown was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and grew up in Walkertown. He began his musical career as pianist for the Dixie Melody Boys and then The Oak Ridge Boys. In 1969 he joined J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, which led to him becoming a member of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band during Elvis’ last three years. He played piano on the “Jungle Room” recording sessions at Graceland, where Elvis’s last hits, “Way Down” and “Moody Blue” were recorded. Tony was Elvis’s last piano player.
After Elvis, Tony Joined Emmylou Harris’s backing band, the Hot Band in 1979, then became an in-demand session musician and toured with acts Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash.
During the 1990s he was President of MCA Nashville, then co-founded Universal South Records.
As a producer, Tony Brown has achieved unparalleled success. He produced Steve Earle’s Guitar Town album, three albums for Lyle Lovett, 19 album with George Strait, 13 albums with Reba, as well as albums with Nanci Griffith, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Brooks & Dunn, Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood, Shirley Caesar, Jimmy Buffett, Sara Evans, Tracy Byrd and Pat Green.
Although his success is rooted in country music, Tony Brown’s talents as a producer transcends genres. While at MCA Records, Tony founded the MCA Masters Series and produced jazz-oriented albums on Larry Carlton, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, Acoustic Alchemy and John Jarvis.
He has also produced recordings by Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel and Joe Cocker and the majority of the Tuskegee album by Lionel Richie in 2012.
Tony Brown received a Grammy for producing the George Strait album, Troubadour and has received nine Grammy certificates for producing Grammy winning singles. He has won ten CMA Awards, was named Producer of the Year by the Academy of Country music three times, has won four Academy of Country Music Awards and in 2008 received the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement as a producer.
Tony is the recipient of the Dale Franklin Award from Leadership Music (2004), the Harmony Award from the Nashville Symphony (2004), the Cecil Scaife Award (2009) and the TEC Award from Mixmagazine (1995). He is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Tony Brown has produced over 100 number one singles and produced recordings that have sold over 100 million albums.
In the music industry, every singer wants to have a producer like Tony Brown, whose name has become synonymous with great recordings.
Video Biography
Coming Soon…
Music Sample
How Great Thou Art
Ashes By Now
J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Band- When I Meet You
Stamps Quartet with JD Sumner and Roy MCNeil- Keel At The Cross
Elvis Presley – Way Down – Rare
Interview