Houston’s premier live music solution; ensembles for every event
Bios: Richard Brown Sharon Montgomery Tommie Lee Jackson Bob Luna 
Richard Brown enjoys a multi- faceted career as an educator, professional musician and a businessman. He is Professor of Percussion at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as well as Principal Percussionist of both The Houston Grand Opera and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestras. He leads the Richard Brown Orchestra, one of Houston’s most popular dance bands that play large social galas, special events and weddings.
Richard began his musical career at the age of 18 playing with The Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Lyric Opera. After his stint with The United States Army Band, in Washington DC, he moved to Houston to join The Houston Symphony, a position he held for 8 years. To pursue another facet of his musical interests he moved to New York City as a freelance percussionist working on Broadway, playing such shows as West Side Story, Showboat, and Shirley MacLaine, as well as working in the recording studios and subbing with The Metropolitan Opera and The New York Philharmonic. During that time he also began working for Ann Margret performing with her for 15 years in all her live shows, both in Las Vegas and on tour.
In 1985 Richard returned to Houston when The Shepherd School appointed him as full time Professor of Percussion. He then began to play regularly with The Houston Symphony and appreciates the 12 years he spent working with Christoph Eschenbach. He became the personnel manager for The Grand Teton Music Festival and soon to follow for The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. This led him to an interest in the business of music and eventually he created Richard Brown Music, a company that hires musicians for most of Houston’s freelance concerts and several of the area’s prominent churches. He is proud to say that in any given year he offers over 2000 employment opportunities to Houston’s professional musicians.
The variety of all these activities keeps Richard busy, but he always finds time to be available to and a mentor for his students who come to the Shepherd School to study and prepare for careers as professional percussionists.
Artist's website
http://www.richardbrownmusic.com
top of the page
Rex Reed says that Sharon Montgomery has "a voice from music heaven". But it's her witty, wisecracking way with an audience that keeps them coming back for more unpredictable fun. In almost 30 years as a professional singer, Sharon has done it all-- from fantastic cabaret rooms around the world like the Cafe Carlyle and the Oak Room at the Algonquin in Manhattan, the Plaza court at the Ritz in London, the Venetian Room at the Fairmont in San Francisco to cool jazz festivals in Newport, Den Hague, Nice, Rome, and Carnegie Hall, to sold-out performances with symphonies across the United States-- and this veteran chanteuse continues to enchant.
At home in Houston, Sharon is beginning her fourth year of performance with the Richard Brown Orchestra while she continues solo and group work in other venues. She currently has two CD's, "Let's Misbehave" and "Live at Ovations", available for purchase through her website at www.sharonmontgomery.com, at CDBaby.com, and at TowerRecords.com.
Artist's website
http://www.sharonmontgomery.com
top of the page
Texas is famous for its eclectic, blues-based rock-n-roll, and Tommie Lee Jackson is one of its most notable exports. This Houston Native began singing as a child, rapidly moving from soulful country and gospel to blues, jazz, and rock. A stellar songwriter with tightly crafted, highly visual lyrics, Tommie Lee's vocals are those of a soul drenched Southern song stylist, able to make any song her own, no matter who composed the material.
Tommie Lee has toured performing her critically acclaimed music throughout the United States as both headliner and support, to Japan, with Soul Shock, and to Canada, with Jean-Pierre Ferland and Ginnette Reno.
As a solo artist, Tommie Lee has recorded for Columbia Records (with Janis Joplin's producer, Paul Rothchild, at the helm)and PolyDor Records. Her trademark husky vocals have contributed to albums by artists from REO Speedwagon to Harry Chapin.
Her big-screen credits include lead and background vocals (under the musical direction of Grammy and Oscar winner Johnny Mandel) on "Stayin' Alive," starring John Travolta; "Lookin' To Get Out," starring Ann-Margaret and Jon Voight; "Never Too Young To Die," starring John Stamos, Vanity, and Gene Simmons; and under Tony Berg's direction on Robert Altman's "A Perfect Couple," starring Paul Dooley (Grace Under Fire) and Ted Neely (Jesus Christ Superstar.) Altman was so impressed with her work, he also cast her in a featured role in the film.
Musical theatre provided Tommie Lee the perfect opportunity to combine her singing and acting skills. She was featured in American Musical Theatre's productions of "A Little Night Music," "The Taffetas," and "Beehive, The Sixties Musical." Her starring role in "Always Patsy Cline" won coast-to-coast critical raves.
top of the page
Working on his third career (at last count), movie star handsome Bob Luna has added "Crooner" to his lengthy resume. Relatively new to the big band scene, he has found a home with the Richard Brown Orchestra, while staying highly visible in television commercials and industrial films.
Of course he maintains his original careers in the Houston fitness and restaurant industries - truly a renaissance man.
Look out Marc Anthony!
top of the page
Richard Brown
Richard Brown enjoys a multi- faceted career as an educator, professional musician and a businessman. He is Professor of Percussion at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as well as Principal Percussionist of both The Houston Grand Opera and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestras. He leads the Richard Brown Orchestra, one of Houston’s most popular dance bands that play large social galas, special events and weddings.
Richard began his musical career at the age of 18 playing with The Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Lyric Opera. After his stint with The United States Army Band, in Washington DC, he moved to Houston to join The Houston Symphony, a position he held for 8 years. To pursue another facet of his musical interests he moved to New York City as a freelance percussionist working on Broadway, playing such shows as West Side Story, Showboat, and Shirley MacLaine, as well as working in the recording studios and subbing with The Metropolitan Opera and The New York Philharmonic. During that time he also began working for Ann Margret performing with her for 15 years in all her live shows, both in Las Vegas and on tour.
In 1985 Richard returned to Houston when The Shepherd School appointed him as full time Professor of Percussion. He then began to play regularly with The Houston Symphony and appreciates the 12 years he spent working with Christoph Eschenbach. He became the personnel manager for The Grand Teton Music Festival and soon to follow for The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. This led him to an interest in the business of music and eventually he created Richard Brown Music, a company that hires musicians for most of Houston’s freelance concerts and several of the area’s prominent churches. He is proud to say that in any given year he offers over 2000 employment opportunities to Houston’s professional musicians.
The variety of all these activities keeps Richard busy, but he always finds time to be available to and a mentor for his students who come to the Shepherd School to study and prepare for careers as professional percussionists.
Artist's website
http://www.richardbrownmusic.com
top of the page
Sharon Montgomery
Rex Reed says that Sharon Montgomery has "a voice from music heaven". But it's her witty, wisecracking way with an audience that keeps them coming back for more unpredictable fun. In almost 30 years as a professional singer, Sharon has done it all-- from fantastic cabaret rooms around the world like the Cafe Carlyle and the Oak Room at the Algonquin in Manhattan, the Plaza court at the Ritz in London, the Venetian Room at the Fairmont in San Francisco to cool jazz festivals in Newport, Den Hague, Nice, Rome, and Carnegie Hall, to sold-out performances with symphonies across the United States-- and this veteran chanteuse continues to enchant.
At home in Houston, Sharon is beginning her fourth year of performance with the Richard Brown Orchestra while she continues solo and group work in other venues. She currently has two CD's, "Let's Misbehave" and "Live at Ovations", available for purchase through her website at www.sharonmontgomery.com, at CDBaby.com, and at TowerRecords.com.
Artist's website
http://www.sharonmontgomery.com
top of the page
Tommie Lee Jackson
Texas is famous for its eclectic, blues-based rock-n-roll, and Tommie Lee Jackson is one of its most notable exports. This Houston Native began singing as a child, rapidly moving from soulful country and gospel to blues, jazz, and rock. A stellar songwriter with tightly crafted, highly visual lyrics, Tommie Lee's vocals are those of a soul drenched Southern song stylist, able to make any song her own, no matter who composed the material.
Tommie Lee has toured performing her critically acclaimed music throughout the United States as both headliner and support, to Japan, with Soul Shock, and to Canada, with Jean-Pierre Ferland and Ginnette Reno.
As a solo artist, Tommie Lee has recorded for Columbia Records (with Janis Joplin's producer, Paul Rothchild, at the helm)and PolyDor Records. Her trademark husky vocals have contributed to albums by artists from REO Speedwagon to Harry Chapin.
Her big-screen credits include lead and background vocals (under the musical direction of Grammy and Oscar winner Johnny Mandel) on "Stayin' Alive," starring John Travolta; "Lookin' To Get Out," starring Ann-Margaret and Jon Voight; "Never Too Young To Die," starring John Stamos, Vanity, and Gene Simmons; and under Tony Berg's direction on Robert Altman's "A Perfect Couple," starring Paul Dooley (Grace Under Fire) and Ted Neely (Jesus Christ Superstar.) Altman was so impressed with her work, he also cast her in a featured role in the film.
Musical theatre provided Tommie Lee the perfect opportunity to combine her singing and acting skills. She was featured in American Musical Theatre's productions of "A Little Night Music," "The Taffetas," and "Beehive, The Sixties Musical." Her starring role in "Always Patsy Cline" won coast-to-coast critical raves.
top of the page
Bob Luna
Working on his third career (at last count), movie star handsome Bob Luna has added "Crooner" to his lengthy resume. Relatively new to the big band scene, he has found a home with the Richard Brown Orchestra, while staying highly visible in television commercials and industrial films.
Of course he maintains his original careers in the Houston fitness and restaurant industries - truly a renaissance man.
Look out Marc Anthony!
top of the page
