Rachel Brown (musician)

Rachel Brown is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for her song "Bumblebee".[1]

Rachel Brown
Ginny's Harlem 2019
Background information
GenresPop, Soul
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Years active2012–present
Websitewww.rachelbrownmusic.com

Early life

Rachel Brown was born and raised in New York City. She is the daughter of Ethiopian born, American fashion designer Amsale Aberra and executive Neil Brown, a New Jersey native with Bermudian and South Carolinian roots.[2] After graduating from Hunter College High School in New York, Brown purchased a guitar and taught herself to play and write songs.[3]

Brown attended Harvard College, developing her passion for music in her spare time, graduated cum laude, and was selected as one of Harvard's “15 Most Interesting Seniors” by The Harvard Crimson.[4]

Musical career

In 2009 while visiting family in Bermuda, Brown found herself at an open mic night called Chewstick. That night lead to her return to Bermuda later that year to perform at their annual musical Beachfest, which in turn led to her performing later that summer at the Bermuda National Stadium opening for Robin Thicke and Mary J. Blige and at the Bermuda Music Festival opening for John Legend and Quincy Jones.[5] In 2010, Brown was the recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation Robert Allen Award selected by ASCAP membership staff.[6] The following year Brown was a recipient of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame Abe Olman Award for Excellence in Songwriting.[7]

Later in 2011, Perez Hilton selected Brown's cover of David Guetta’s “Without You” as the winner of his “Can You Sing?” competition.[8]

In 2012 Rachel Brown released her debut EP Building Castles. Glamour.com wrote, “Her sensually soulful vocals carry the EP's captivating mélange of sounds – from Caribbean to hip-hop and world fusion – with uncanny ease, while conveying joy.”[9] Building Castles includes the single, “Bumblebee,” which was featured in a Robbins Brothers commercial and by Jay Leno in his opening monologue on the Tonight Show.[10]

In 2013 Brown was asked to contribute to Lennon Bermuda, a tribute album, book and concert inspired by John Lennon’s visit to Bermuda. The album includes Brown’s cover of “Watching the Wheels” alongside contributions by Yoko Ono and Maxi Priest.[11] Fusing pop, soul, Caribbean, world and hip-hop, Rachel's unique style of music has garnered the attention of stars such as Jay Z,[12] Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jaden Smith, and more.[13]

In 2015, Brown released The Band EP, recorded live at the Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, NY. The Band received praise from Vanity Fair,[14] The New Yorker,[15] InStyle,[16] BlackBook,[17] OkayPlayer,[18] WWD,[19] BBC,[20] and more, and features the single “You Got Me,” which was accompanied by a music video starring Brown and a capuchin monkey,[19] and a stripped-down acoustic guitar rendition of Whitney Houston's “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”[14]

Brown has opened for several artists, including John Legend, and Quincy Jones.[21] and has often performed live with Wyclef Jean,[22]

Discography
  • Building Castles EP (2012)
  • Me & You (2014)
  • The Band EP (2015)

Other Contributions

  • Summer of Love EP (2013)
  • Lennon Bermuda (2013)

References
  1. "Rachel Brown To Return For 2013 Peace Concert". Bernews. Bernews.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. Cheakalos, Christina. "Her Wedding Wear Is A Hit, But It's Amsale Aberra's New Line of Glam Gowns That Has Made Her An Evening Star". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. "Rachel Brown - Bumblebee". Song Hall. Song Writers Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. Zhou, Li. "15 Most Interesting Seniors 2010: Rachel A. Brown". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson Inc. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  5. "Rachel Brown To Perform At Chewstick". Bernews. Burnous.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  6. "The ASCAP Foundation Robert Allen Award". ASCAP. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  7. Pierce, Richard. "NYU And The Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announce Jimmy Webb To Be The Inaugural Guest Of New Master Session Series". NYU. New York University. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  8. "Can You Sing??? These Folks Can!". PerezHilton. PerezHilton.com. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  9. Woods, Mickey. "Morning Jam: Start Your Day Right With Rachel Brown's "Four Leaf Clovers"". Glamour. Condé Nast. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  10. "The Hobbit Gollum Found The One Ring - Engagement Ring!". Robbins Brothers. Robbins Brothers. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  11. "The Music". Lennon Bermuda. Double Fantasy Bermuda. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  12. "Jay-Z Shows Love To Knicks". Page Six. New York Post. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  13. Mercado, Samuel. "Rachel Brown Electrifies Ginny's Supper Club In Harlem". joonbug. SkyNet Media Group. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  14. Locker, Melissa. "The Best Song Of The Week Is..." Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  15. Donohue, John. "Rachel Brown's Uncanny Voice". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  16. Stern, Claire. "Why Designer Amsale Aberra's Daughter Rachel Brown Is the Next Big Thing in R&B". InStyle. Time Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  17. Rosenzweig, Mathias. "Hear Rachel Brown's Beautiful Rendition of Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'". BlackBook. BlackBook. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  18. Zo. "NYC's Rachel Brown Unplugs + Reboots Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"". OkayPlayer. OkayPlayer. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  19. Medina, Marcy. "Amsale Aberra Teams Up With Daughter Rachel Brown". WWD. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  20. Bedi, Nikki. "The Arts Hour: Rachel Brown, Stephen Fry, Carlos Gamerro". BBC World Service. BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  21. Furbert, Michelle. "John Legend Left The Ladies Mesmerized". BDASUN. Bermuda Sun LTD. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  22. "Rachel Brown & Wyclef Jean". Bernews. Bernews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
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