Mr.
Kenyon Camper, a member of Ezion-Mt. Carmel UMC sends a Christmas card each
year that celebrates the accomplishments of a famous African American. This year features the picture of a statue of
Clifford B. Brown, Sr. who was a jazz trumpeter. I went on the internet and learned about his
life on the Wikipedia website. He was
born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 20, 1930. At the age of 10 he began playing the
trumpet. His first trumpet teacher was
Boysie Lowery and he played in a jazz group that Lowery organized. He graduated from Howard High School,
attended Delaware State University and later switched to Maryland state
College. He quickly became a professional trumpeter and performed with many great bands of his
day. His trumpet playing had a strong
sense of harmony and a warm and mellow tone.
One
of the things that struck me the most about his life was that he did not get
involved with drugs or alcohol. In an
article about him in the Washington Post (June 26, 2006) writer Matt Schudel
noted “Brown refused to use drugs and his quiet example had begun to change the
reprobate image of musicians for whom booze and heroin were a part of the jazz
life.”
He
demonstrated character by refusing to get involved with chemical
dependencies. I am sure that not only
the musicians around him were affected by his abstinence. I imagine that many young people looked up to
him as a role model as well. He was not swayed by the crowd but he lived by his
principles.
The
Apostle Paul reminds us “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Clifford Brown did just that and his legacy
of musical excellence and moral uprightness is an example for all.
Tragically
he died at the age of 25 in a car crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He was described as “a shooting star…he’s
there, and he’s gone.” He continues to
live on in the hearts of many who heard him perform and in his recordings. I celebrate Black History month as I remember
the good life of Clifford Brown.