B.Mus. (composition major, minor in theatre and dance), California State University, Fullerton

Destined to be a musician and composer, Tom Brown began to manifest his talent early in life. At age seven, he could play by ear piano pieces that his sister was studying at lessons. Though he went on to add trumpet and French horn to the instruments that he played, it was not so much the instrument as the entertaining itself which thrilled Tom and fueled his creativity. Acting, dancing, singing and playing were all firmly a part of his repertoire by the time he finished high school and went on to study music composition at California State University, Fullerton. Throughout high school and college he was thoroughly involved in community theater, summer stock, cabaret, weddings, parties, benefits and even Disney stage shows.

With his mind set on musical theater, Tom moved to New York City in 1985, and it was then that he discovered where his stand-out talent lay: writing music that easily touches the emotions. Laughter, tears, retrospection and inspiration were all elicited by his songs and his voice.

Tom was represented for a time by The Shumaker Talent Agency of North Hollywood, California. The back of his glossy photo gives his stats: Height: 6' 3" / Weight: 170 lbs. / Hair: Blond / Eyes: Blue.

Tom discovered he was HIV-positive in 1987. This initiated a personal spiritual journey and ushered in one of the most creative periods of his life, during which he produced songs like "Jonathan Wesley Oliver, Jr.," "For The Time Being," and "Why Not Everyone."

—Jim Brown (adapted and expanded from CD notes) (used with permission)

WORKS:

SONGS

Words and music by Brown unless noted.
* Recorded by Brown (see Discography)

Another Local Ladies' Luncheon (1988)
     from Hats Off and Running
Christmas With My Love (1990)
Come Back Little Sheba (1986)
     (with B. Marks)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 1
Come Home To Me (1986)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 2
Did I Try Too Hard (1986)
Don't Anybody Move (1985)
The Eleven O'Clock Song (1991)
Fella At The Subway Station (1986)
For The Time Being (1990)
     note: AIDS-themed work
Frankie's Decision (1986)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 1
Goin' Around (1987)
Good Morning (1986)
Harriet, Jane & Donna (1986)
     (with R. Simas)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 1
Hollywood Waiters (1986)
How Many Miles More? (year?)
     (with R. Simas)
Hugh's Song (1991)
I Don't Know (1988)*
If It Wasn't For His Smile (1985)
Introductions (1986)
It Might As Well Be Christmas (1987)
I Toss My Hat Into The Ring (1987)
     from Hats Off and Running
Jimmy Orangeseed (1991)
     from Very Good Princess
Jonathan Wesley Oliver, Jr. (1988)*
     note: AIDS-themed work
Lady In Waiting (1986?)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 1
Liberated Women (1987)
Little Did I Know (1986)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 2
Long After Love (1986)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 2
Magazine Men (1986 and 1987)
My Brother Dreams In German Now (1986)*
A Prisoner's Dream (1986)
Song of Definition (1986)
Song of Conversation (1986)
Song of Confrontation (1986)
Song of Disolusion [sic] (1986)
Song of Continuation (1986)
     Above 5 songs are from an unidentified work.
Stay Right Here (1986)
Still New (1986)
Take The Phone Off The Hook! (1986)
Thanks To Teachers (1990)
A Trial Separation (1986)*
The Very Good Princess Song (1990)
     from Very Good Princess
We're Gonna Tell You The Truth (1991)
     from Very Good Princess
Why Not Everyone (Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel) (1990)
Why Shouldn't Mom Be President (1987)
     from Hats Off and Running
Women & Men (1986)
     from Unidentified Musical No. 2
Wonderland Medley (1987)

MUSICAL THEATRE

As Falls Wichita (1990)
Music and lyrics by Tom Brown & George Kramer
(A single through-composed scene depicting a battle between "right to life" protesters, a doctor, a preacher, and a single pregnant woman)

Hats Off and Running: A five member rock musical about the Presidential elections (1987)
by Lynnette Barkley, Tom Brown, Thom Goff
     Another Local Ladies' Luncheon (1988)
     I Toss My Hat Into The Ring (1987)
     Why Shouldn't Mom Be President (1987)

A Prisoner's Dream (year?)
Written by Robb Pruitt
Music and lyrics by Tom Brown
Produced October 1994 at Upstairs at Rose's Turn, New York
Starring Joan Crowe, Melissa Bailey, John DiPinto
Directed by Jaime Donegan
note: was this an original work in collaboration with Pruitt (if so, what year?), or a stage show using existing songs by Brown?

Unidentified Musical No. 1 (1986)
Scores in archive are together, same manuscript style.
     Harriet, Jane & Donna (with R. Simas)
     Come Back Little Sheba (with B. Marks)
     Frankie's Decision
     Lady In Waiting

Unidentified Musical No. 2 (1986)
Scores in archive are together, same manuscript style.
     Women & Men
     Long After Love
     Little Did I Know
     Come Home To Me

Unidentified Work (1986)
Scores in archive are together, but first song is missing, Title of first song is found on a separate song list.
     Song of Definition
     Song of Conversation
     Song of Confrontation
     Song of Disolusion
     Song of Continuation

High school and college productions with original music by Brown:
Different Worlds (1975)
The Children's Crusades (1977)
I Never Saw Another Butterfly (1978)
Generation (1980)
Women Of Courage (1980)
David and Lisa (1981)
Sink Back To The Mire (1981)
Punchlines (1982)

Cabarets, revues and other productions with arrangements by Brown:
Cherry Pies Ought To Be You!
Lincoln Summer Theater, Stockton (1977)
Out In The Country
Lincoln Summer Theater, Stockton (1978)
Pavane
Dance Production, CSU Fullerton (1980)
Baseball, Booze, And Broadway
Stage Productions, CSU Fullerton (1981)
Amy And Friends
Cabaret Repertory Theater (1981?)
Yukon Follies
Disneyland Hotel Summer Show (1982)
Studio One Show
Maxi's Cabaret Show, etc.
Footloose, a four-part vocal cabaret act (1983)
Circles, Bars, and Stars
Pat Boone USA TV Show
Republican National Convention
Great American Entertainment Co.
Robert F. Jani Productions (1984)

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Very Good Princess (1990-1991)
Story by Dennis Hardin. A comedy opera with three songs completed.

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:
Tom Brown: What A Wonderful World (independently produced CD of a 1989 recording made in Germany)
Tom Brown, voice and piano
     Blame It On The Summer Nights (Schwartz & Strouse)
     You Came A Long Way From St. Louis (Bob Russell & John Benson Brooks)
     A Trial Separation (Brown)
     You've Got That Thing (Porter)
     Wind Beneath My Wings (Larry Hanley & Jeff Alan Silbar)
     Stormy Weather (Arlen & Kochler)
     Come In From the Rain (Sager & Manchester)
     I Get a Kick Out of You (Porter)
     I Don't Know (Brown)
     My Brother Dreams In German Now (Brown)
     Never, Never Land (Comden, Green, Styne)
     New York State Of Mind (Billy Joel)
     I Happen To Like New York (Porter)
     Baby Can I Hold You (Tracy Chapman)
     How Long Has This Been Going On? (Gershwin & Gershwin)
     Jonathan Wesley Oliver, Jr. (Brown)
     What a Wonderful World (George David Weiss & Bob Thiele)
     Ain't Love Easy (Carol Hall)

OTHER WORKS:

"Baby" (For Joan Crowe On the Birth of Her Son)
A one-page poem or song lyric (?). Score missing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• "Tugging at the Heartstrings: GLAMA Award-Winning Cabaret Artist Lee Lessack Sings a Universal Song" by Larry Buhl, Art & Understanding Magazine, June 2000. (mentions Brown among songwriters who have died of AIDS).

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
ASCAP
note: The song list in archive indicates the following songs as BMI:
     Frankie's Decision
     How Many Miles More?
     Lady In Waiting

RESOURCES:
Unknown

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Bill and Ellie Brown (parents)
6290 E. Rio Grande
Anaheim, CA 92807
(714) 998-3243

OTHER CONTACTS:
Unknown

ARCHIVES:
With family.
Copies of all songs (except "Hugh's Song," "Magazine Men," "Song of Definition" and "Stay Right Here"), a cassette, the CD and a few postcards and promotional materials with Estate Project archive.

OTHER INFORMATION: