Grooving with Brown Sugar
Put on your dancing shoes and prepare to groove the night away to the smooth sounds of the Brown Sugar Band at the “Sounds of Summer” free concert series in downtown Navasota Friday, June 28.
Founded March 17, 1975, by Sandra Lee and her mother, the late Lorraine Audrey Brown, the Brown Sugar Band has played their unique style of music for 44 years.
They have been front bands for greats such as Johnny Guitar Watson, Bobby Blue Band and Con Funk Shun.
“We play a variety of music but are best known as a rhythm and blues and neo soul band,” said Lee. Lee describes the band as a great dance and party band. “We have played amongst diverse crowds and have band members that can play diverse styles of music. Our sounds range from R&B, country and western to newer pop music such as Bruno Mars.”
The band began by playing their music at military bases. Their music quickly set sail and led them to play at wedding receptions, private parties and at clubs throughout Houston, Seabrook, Kemah and other towns throughout Texas.
Lee’s mom passed away in August of 1990 and two original band members remain playing with the band. Aside from Lee, bass guitarist James L. Mosley aka Junior, who resides in Hempstead, has been with the band since it originated.
Tasha Johnson- Bailey is the lead vocalist and has been with the band for 21 years. A fun fact is the band has two members with immediate celebrity family members. Bailey is the brother of NFL great Eric Dickerson.
Brown Sugar Band drummer Jacques Webster from Prairie View has played with the band since the late 1980’s. He is also the father of popular rapper Travis Scott.
Lead guitarist Freddie Lockett began playing with the band at age 16. He continued to play with Brown Sugar Band for the next 10 years, but left the band to start Earlywine, a country and western band. Lockett, a Brenham native, returned to Brown Sugar Band three years ago.
The band extends further than its performers onstage. They have a great support group including Patrick Dykoukal who handles photography for the band, Tony Downey is the stage crew manager and Latrenda Williams takes care of public relations and merchandise sales.
Lee said with the increased popularity throughout the years the band stays booked January through December. Currently the band doesn’t have any albums released but have one in the works they anticipate will be released early winter.
For booking information or to find out more about Brown Sugar Band visit www.brownsugarband.net.
The “Sounds of Summer” free concert series begins at 6:30 p.m. and attendees can bring lawn chairs and coolers. There will also be food trucks available and free ice cream courtesy of Blue Bell Creameries.