Leonard 'Lowdown' Brown - Street Party (2025) Hi-Res

Born in Arkansas on May 15, 1953, and raised in Gary, Indiana, Leonard’s childhood was filled with music. When the family made their move to Gary, the first thing his mother bought was a piano. Leonard was one of ten children – five brothers and four sisters and all played music. Around the age of six, his father gave him his first guitar, and he has been playing ever since. During his early years, Leonard and his siblings all sang in traveling gospel choirs. As he got older, he started playing music in Chicago, initially in gospel groups but he took further inspiration in the blues of B.B. King, R.L. Burnside, and T-Bone Walker.

A major life change opened new doors for him. He took a two- year training program to work at General Electric and upon graduation from the program in 1980, he was assigned to work in Houston. Frequenting the city’s blues clubs, he made friends and connections that encouraged him to become part of the community’s active blues scene. He gained his “Lowdown” moniker when organizers of the Benson & Hedges 1988 Houston Blues Festival added the title to his name and he kept it. For over 40 years, Leonard has been a major part of the Houston Blues Scene. He says “Most people come to listen to music to have fun and dance. It’s a way to unify people. Music is what we have in common.”

At age 70, Leonard’s debut album, Blues Is Calling Me, was released in 2023 on the Music Maker label. This is his second album. The album was produced by Jimbo Mathis, a member of “The Squirrel Nut Zippers”. Jim brought his own band “Creatures of the Southern Wild” as backup on the album. Leonard, of course plays guitar and vocals with Jimbo playing piano and guitar, Guitarist Scott ‘Paco’ Goolsby, bassist John Kveen and drummer Kirk Russell.

Ten original songs, all written by Leonard, opens with “Theme” an instrumental run building steam with a constant recitation from backing singers of “Lowdown Brown gets me down”. Leonard joins the scene on vocals as he asks “Are you ready? We are going to have a “Street Party”. “People are dancing in the street. The people are going nowhere”. “The band is cool. The band is tight”. He next proclaims “I’m Gonna Take Care of You” and further asserts “If you got a problem baby, don’t think for one minute baby I would ever leave your side. I got my eyes on you. I’m gonna take care of you”. A tremolo guitar provides a smooth tone through the song and moves into a solid guitar solo.

He next determines “I Need Help” in another smooth blues as he notes “When I came into this world, I couldn’t make it by myself. I found real, real fast I’m gonna need help from somebody else.” When I came into this world, I didn’t know how to cook, couldn’t write my name, couldn’t read a book”. He has the “Don’t Wanna Get Up” blues, “I sat up in my bed but laid on back down with covers on my head. My eyes are tired, and I need some sleep. But I gotta get on up to hit the streets.” Sounds like something we all can relate to with varying circumstances. He further elaborates his issue is “I stayed up partying too late”. All presented in a very soulful cry.

With some concern and a slightly haunting blues, he cites “My baby went down to Mississippi to get me a “Mojo Bag”. “I didn’t know what was in it. It was the first one I ever had. I looked into the bag, and I wondered what all of this spell means, and I thought to myself is this mojo bag working on me?” “Some strange things in this mojo bag – chicken bones, Mississippi cotton, I got a rosebud, Mississippi mud, hair from a dog, lips from a frog.” He next declares “Gotta Leave This Town” to get your troubles off my mind, go to another place and time…to take these worries off my mind”. The song opens with some very smooth, laidback blues guitar and Jimbo’s piano rolling through.

On “News with Blues”, he expresses “Every morning I wake up, I listen to the morning news. All I hear is bad luck and trouble, It’s just another day for the blues”. “Houston Bound” relates Leonard’s life story as he moves from Chicago to Houston and finds his footing when “I found some of the best blues clubs in town”. He closes with the “Big Blues Show” and tells everyone “When the big blues show is coming to your town, get out there early, don’t mess around.”

The album offers the “Lowdown” blues, a smooth traditional blues with Leonard’s warm, easy-going vocals and gentle guitar. They may not get you up dancing, but they will have you swaying and getting up with a smile on your face.