ODELL BROWN

Odell Elliott Brown Jr. (February 2, 1940 – May 3, 2011) was an American jazz organist. Brown was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was mainly active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing in a soul jazz and jazz funk vein, and was often billed with his backing band as Odell Brown & the Organ-Izers. The band was originally formed in Nashville in 1961. His most popular record was 1967's Mellow Yellow, which reached #173 on the Billboard 200. The band's personnel was O'Dell Brown, organ, Artee "Duke" Payne and Tommy Purvis, tenor saxophones, Curtis Prince, drums.  Brown also co-wrote Marvin Gaye's hit single "Sexual Healing". He played electric piano with Marvin Gaye in the late 70's, early 80's. Brown also accompanied singer Johnny Nash in the 1970s, and arranged and conducted an album with Minnie Riperton on Epic records. Brown has been living in Richfield, Minnesota since the early read more...