greg brown

Biography

Greg Brown, born in 1949 in the Hacklebarney region of Iowa, was raised in a musical family: his mother played electric guitar, his grandfather played banjo, and his father was a preacher, immersing him in gospel and Appalachian folk traditions from an early age. Brown began performing professionally at 18, running hootenannies at the legendary Gerdes Folk City in New York City, where he was quickly absorbed into the Greenwich Village folk scene. After early stints in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, including ghostwriting for Buck Ram of the Platters, Brown returned to Iowa, where he began writing songs and performing in local clubs and coffeehouses[1][2][3][5][6].

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Brown developed a distinctive style blending Americana, folk, and alt-country, characterized by his gravelly baritone, poetic lyrics, and homespun guitar work. His career took a significant turn when he became a regular guest on Garrison Keillor’s 'A Prairie Home Companion,' which brought his music to a national audience. In 1986, he co-founded Red House Records with Bob Feldman, providing him with creative freedom and helping launch a vital independent folk label. Brown released over 30 albums, collaborating closely with producer and guitarist Bo Ramsey, and his songs were covered by artists such as Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter[1][2][3][4][7].

Brown’s legacy is that of a quintessential Midwestern songwriter whose work captures the spirit and struggles of rural America. His influence extends through his recordings, collaborations, and the many artists who cite him as an inspiration. Even after his soft retirement in 2019, Brown continues to write and occasionally perform, and his 2024 retrospective songbook, 'Ring Around the Moon,' cements his status as a folk icon[4][7].

Fun Facts

• Greg Brown’s mother taught him his first guitar chords, and he grew up playing music at family jams in Hacklebarney, Iowa[3].
• He once sold his guitar in New York City to buy a plane ticket to Oregon to reunite with his girlfriend, only for the relationship to end during the trip back to Iowa[1].
• Brown started Red House Records by literally putting boxes of records in Bob Feldman’s car, launching what became a major independent folk label[1][3].
• Allen Ginsberg listened to Brown’s album of William Blake poems while dying, and sent Brown his annotated Blake lectures as thanks[3].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Eric Andersen - Folk singer who invited Brown to New York and helped him get established in the Greenwich Village scene. (Live performances, mentorship in early career) [Late 1960s]
• Buck Ram - Manager of the Platters; Brown worked as a ghostwriter for him in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. (Songwriting (ghostwriting)) [Early 1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Bo Ramsey - Producer and guitarist who played on many of Brown's albums and shaped his sound. (Multiple albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s) [1980s–2000s]
• Bob Feldman - Co-founder of Red House Records, Brown’s primary label and creative partner. (Red House Records releases) [1986 onward]
• Garrison Keillor - Host of 'A Prairie Home Companion,' where Brown was a frequent musical guest. (Live radio performances) [1980s–2000s]

Artists Influenced

• Shawn Colvin - Covered Brown's songs and cited him as an influence on her songwriting. (Song covers, stylistic influence) [1990s–present]
• Mary Chapin Carpenter - Covered Brown's songs and acknowledged his influence. (Song covers, stylistic influence) [1990s–present]
• Red House Records artists - Label Brown co-founded became a platform for emerging folk and Americana musicians. (Label catalog) [1986–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Spring Wind (If I Had Known - Essential Recordings 1980-1996)
2. Blue Car (Covenant)
3. Why We Build the Wall (Hadestown)
4. Dream Café (Dream Café)
5. Hey, Little Songbird (Hadestown)
6. Freak Flag (Freak Flag)
7. 'Cept You & Me Babe (Covenant)
8. Laughing River (If I Had Known - Essential Recordings 1980-1996)
9. Two Little Feet (If I Had Known - Essential Recordings 1980-1996)
10. How Long? (Hadestown)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #folk