Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman (22 Sep 2008)

Subject: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Janie
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 10:24 PM

Nappy Brown died yesterday at age 78 in Charlotte, NC.

More here, from the Blues Foundation.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Janie
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 10:28 PM

Sorry, the news this morning said he died yesterday, but the Blues Foundation obituary says he died Saturday.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: GUEST,scott cable
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 08:13 AM

He died Saturday night.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 09:11 AM

Rest in Peace...

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 09:43 AM

My thanks to Nappy Brown for the contributions that he made to music and my condolences to his family & friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 09:48 AM

Here's a excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nappy_Brown

"Nappy Brown is the stage name of Napoleon Brown Culp (October 12, 1929 – September 20, 2008).[1][2] Brown was a gospel-influenced blues singer, whose hits include the 1955 Billboard Chart No 2, Don't Be Angry[3] and Night Time Is the Right Time. His style is instantly recognizable; Brown used a wide vibrato, melisma, and distinctive extra syllables, in particular, "li-li-li-li-li"...

Nappy Brown's final album, Long Time Coming -- recorded in May 2007 -- on Blind Pig Records, was released on September 25th, 2007. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive (4-1/2 stars from the All Music Guide);[16][17][18] the album and Brown were each nominated for a Blues Music Award (the genre's highest honor).[19] The album, produced by Scott Cable, features the guitarists Sean Costello, Bob Margolin, Junior Watson, and other special guests performing Brown's hits and several new songs. In the fall of 2007, Nappy Brown was Living Blues Magazine's September cover artist, and followed that honor with a European tour.[20] Nappy Brown was a musical guest on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, October 20th, 2007.

At the ceremony for the Blues Music Awards in May of 2008, Brown gave one last electrifying performance, capping an incredible comeback year.

On June 1, 2008 following the performance at Crawfish Festival in Augusta, New Jersey, Brown fell ill due to series of ailments and was hospitalized. He died in his sleep on September 20, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina".

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 08 - 10:16 AM

Prior to reading Nappy Brown's Wikipedia page, I was curious about the origin of his nickname "Nappy".

Among African Americans, "nappy" is usually a somewhat mildly negative descriptor for the "texture" of hair that most people of Black African descent have. A much more negative descriptor is "kinky", and nowadays the more politically correct phrase to describe "Black" hair prior to chemical treatment or hot comb treatment is "tightly curled".

However, I rejected this origin of Nappy Brown's nickname because I didn't think that African Americans in his age group would call attention to their natural hair texture [though in the post 1960s afro wearing, corn roll wearing, dreadlock wearing days] some African Americans might choose such a nickname].

I then wondered if the nickname "Nappy" could be a folk etymology version of the word "natty", meaning "smartly dressed, dapper". The photograph of Nappy Brown found in the first hyperlink to this thread certainly shows Nappy Brown as a man who is dressed in the hight of fashion.

Btw, the great Reggae singer/composer Bob Marley's song "Natty Dread" uses this definition of the word "natty". See my post in this Mudcat thread for more information about the etymology ofthe word "natty" thread.cfm?threadid=100728&messages=26#2023797   

But it turns out that the nickname "Nappy" was quite easy to explain-In this case, "Nappy" was just another example of a diminutive being made by adding a "y" or an "ie" to a personal name-in this case "Napoleon". That oughta teach me to first check basic facts and not jump to conclusions. That said, I bet that while there may be a few African American males nowadays who have the given name "Napoleon", very few of them willingly call themselves "Nappy".

**

Let me say again "Big up to Nappy Brown", and no disrespect intended by this comment.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nappy Brown, bluesman
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 05:26 AM

A fine singer - I remember his single "Little by little" being played on Radio Luxembourg in the 1950s.

I have two fine LPs by him:-

I DONE GOT OVER. recorded with some very good Scandinavian musicians
in 1983 (plus Willie Cook, an American trumpeter, who has also played with Ellington & Basie and others). Lovely extended versions of "Down in the alley" and "Going down slow".

TORE UP, recorded c1986 in Atlanta GA. Another good selection of songs.   Must get my vinyl deck working again...........

God bless a much underrated bluesman.