[1] He was best-known as a blues performer, but his music was often eclectic and also touched on genres including country, jazz and rock and roll.

[3] His father was a railroad worker and local musician who taught him several musical instruments, including fiddle by age 5; as well as piano and guitar.

[6] In 1949 Robey founded Peacock Records in order to showcase Brown's virtuoso guitar work.

As for his gutsy violin playing, Robey allowed Brown to record "Just Before Dawn", his final release on the Peacock label, in 1959.

In the 1960s Brown moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to participate in a syndicated R&B television show, and while he was there recorded several country singles.

[3] However, in the early 1970s several countries in Europe had developed an appreciation for American roots music, especially the blues, and Brown was a popular and well-respected artist there.

Brown appeared at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival, where he jammed with American blues rock band Canned Heat,[5] playing guitar and harmonica.

In 1979, through his manager at the time, Jim Halsey, Brown embarked on a 6-week, 44 concert tour of the Soviet Union.

This was an historic event as it marked the first time the Soviet Union made a contract with a U.S. private citizen (Jim Halsey) as regards a musical tour.

[8] In his last years, he maintained a full touring schedule, including Australia, New Zealand, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe.

[7] His home in Slidell, Louisiana, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, although he had been evacuated to his childhood hometown of Orange, Texas, and lived with his brother before the storm hit.

[9] Brown was acclaimed for his skills on multiple instruments, including the guitar, mandolin, viola, violin, harmonica and drums.