David Arthur Brown is an American musician and the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the US band Brazzaville.

He met and became friends with Mark Sandman of Morphine and began to develop an interest in other genres of music than jazz.

It was when Brown was reading a story in the Los Angeles Times about the civil war in Congo, particularly about events unfolding in the city of Brazzaville, that he finally came up with the name.

Much of Brazzaville's early music reflects Brown's fascination with shipping, Asia, low budget travel, and misfits.

That period left a lasting impression on Brown and his songwriting and can be heard on tracks like Deng Xiaoping, Shams, and Love Sky.