Liz Brown began her professional singing career at the age of 3, performing in a cowgirl costume at her grandparents' gas station in the pine barrens of New Jersey. Liz got her first guitar when she was 14 and taught herself to play from a Joan Baez song book.
In the early 70's she moved to San Francisco singing the blues with some of the great Bay Area musicians of the time like Paul Butterfield and Taj Mahal, as well as experimental world music people embracing the San Francisco music scene. Liz heard Betty Carter in a small alleyway club and soon incorporated scat and jazz into the Chicago style blues she was performing at honky tonks and roadhouses.
In 1983 Liz moved to the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina and discovered amazing, young musicians attending Appalachian State University and the traditional mountain musicians, like Doc Watson. It was at this musical crossroads that Liz formed the experimental blues band "Liz and the Tomcats." In 1994, she joined the area's best blues/funk/jam band "Chicken Fat Music Company," a high energy crowd favorite among the diverse counter culture thriving in the North Carolina mountains.
Liz has shared the stage with:
Doc Watson
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Taj Mahal
Willie King
Kent Burnside
Robert Ross
Henry "Gip" Gibson
Joe Mcguinness
Ross Pead
Little Brother
Ben Wakeman
Caroline Aikin
Jennifer Daniels
Snake Oil Medicine Show
The King Bees
The Blue Rags
Donna the Buffalo
Jay Brown and the Lazybirds
Blues Boy Willie
Steve Davidowski (The Dixie Dreggs)
Jimmy Galloway
"Pig Iron" Shifalo and the Radio Ramblers
Robert Ross
Melissa Reaves
Reviews of "Borderline"
[Liz has] an amazing ability to become so many different singers! I love the way the "storyteller" in her songs is truly a different person each time a new song comes on. Her work and and her soul are both very evident throughout the record. Who needs a five cd player....just put this record on and you are listening to a variety of styles, voices and journeys on one disc!! - Laura Monk of "High Cotton"
Reviews of "Mama's Blues"
What a powerful CD. Even if you are not a blues fan, Liz will turn you into one. A fantastic performer that will entertain you in many demensions. A MUST buy! JV - Kansas
Not only a talented versatile vocalist and musician, but a great songwriter to boot! If you can, catch Liz live,.. she'll keep you entertained, get you singing and clapping along, and at the end of the show, leave send you singing right out the door. – WP – Chicago
Liz Brown is an amazing and authentic artist. Whether passion or pain, tears or laughter, her powerful magic, her lyrical expression always ring true. I'm looking forward to much much more of her music. She's a real professional. RM – Palm Springs, CA
I saw this woman play in a North Carolina bar and was blown away, I immedidately bought her CD and was so thankfull that I did. Its really a solid CD that took me back to the show that I saw. Her songwriting is excelent, her lyrics are thoughtfull, from wrenching blues to gut busting funny. - The Barber - Atlanta
Photo by Judy Bruner, 2007
