Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Clifford Brown
Legendary Jazz Musician
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 18, 2016
1. Clifford Brown Marker
Inscription.
Clifford Brown. Legendary Jazz Musician. Born on October 30, 1930 in Wilmington, Delaware, Clifford Brown was one of the most influential jazz musicians of the mid-20th century. He began to play the trumpet as a teenager while attending Howard High School. By 1948 he was playing in Philadelphia with pioneering jazz performers such as Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. It was Navarro’s influence that played a major role in the development of “Brownie” as one of the stars of the emerging “bop” style of jazz. Following a lengthy recovery from an automobile accident in June 1950, he resumed his career, making his recording debut in 1952 with Chris Powell’s Blue Flames. In 1953 he toured Europe with Lionel Hampton. The following year he was selected as ‘New Star of the Year’ in a poll of industry critics. His considerable talent and virtuosity resulted in recordings with Art Blakey, Art Farmer, J. J. Johnson, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and others. In 1954 he joined with Max Roach to form the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet, considered by many to be the greatest “hard bop” ensemble of all time. His life ended tragically on June 26, 1956, when he was killed in an accident while traveling to perform. Clifford Brown was laid to rest in Wilmington’s Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Born on October 30, 1930 in Wilmington, Delaware, Clifford Brown was one of the most influential jazz musicians of the mid-20th century. He began to play the trumpet as a teenager while attending Howard High School. By 1948 he was playing in Philadelphia with pioneering jazz performers such as Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. It was Navarro’s influence that played a major role in the development of “Brownie” as one of the stars of the emerging “bop” style of jazz. Following a lengthy recovery from an automobile accident in June 1950, he resumed his career, making his recording debut in 1952 with Chris Powell’s Blue Flames. In 1953 he toured Europe with Lionel Hampton. The following year he was selected as ‘New Star of the Year’ in a poll of industry critics. His considerable talent and virtuosity resulted in recordings with Art Blakey, Art Farmer, J. J. Johnson, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and others. In 1954 he joined with Max Roach to form the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet, considered by many to be the greatest “hard bop” ensemble of all time. His life ended tragically on June 26, 1956, when he was killed in an accident while traveling to perform. Clifford Brown was laid to rest in Wilmington’s Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Erected 2005 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker
Click or scan to see this page online
Number NC-146.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.
Location. 39° 44.887′ N, 75° 32.453′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is on Clifford Brown Walk, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at the entrance to Clifford Brown Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Clifford Brown Walk, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Clifford Brown website. (Submitted on January 19, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 10, 2023
2. Clifford Brown Marker
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 18, 2016
3. Clifford Brown Park
Note the trumpet outline on the walkway.
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, January 18, 2016
4. Brandywine River Ballroom
Club next door to Clifford Brown Park and marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 664 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on February 23, 2019, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1. submitted on January 19, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on February 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on January 19, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.