SAVOY All Stars Band

Lawrence "Deacon" Brown

Trombone
August 3, 1907 - September 5, 1988

Brown was raised in a minister’s family and learned music in church.  He discovered trombone and wanted to make it sound “like a cello.” Kicked out of his home for his music, he played at the (Culver City) Cotton Club with Lionel Hampton on drums, backing Louis Armstrong - “the only musician who ever influenced me.”   In 1932, when called to rehearse on a Sunday, he quit Armstrong’s band and joined Duke Ellington’s Orchestra. Brown stayed for 20 years, bringing jazz and blues to the instrument’s use.

His nickname in the Ellington band was “Deacon” because of his temperance.  "I never smoked, drank or gambled," he said, "but I didn't keep away from those who did. I have a Coke and buy them a whisky."
 He and Johnny Hodges left Duke in 1951 for their own band, and do session work.  He returned in 1960 to finish out his career with Duke.

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Now that I have been able to return in Second Life, I am play trombone with the Savoy All Stars Band.  We are a swing jazz band playing tunes from the 1930s and 40s.  The venue reminds me of the Savoy back then, and even has a Swing Era Museum in the balcony that presents the Bands, Clubs, Music and Dances of that time.  Come check us out - we love the gig at Savoy.