The Six Brown Brothers: Pioneers of the Saxophone in Early American Popular Music
Introduction
In the bustling world of early 20th-century American entertainment, where vaudeville stages crackled with energy and the phonograph brought music into homes for the first time, one group stood out for their unique sound and showmanship: the Six Brown Brothers. Known for their lively, often comedic performances and their groundbreaking use of the saxophone, this Canadian-born sextet played a pivotal role in introducing the instrument to a wider audience. Long before the saxophone became synonymous with jazz and big band music, the Six Brown Brothers helped establish its place in popular culture, blending ragtime rhythms with vaudevillian flair.
The Six Brown Brothers were among the earliest musical acts to achieve widespread fame through both live performances and recordings. Their playful yet virtuosic approach to the saxophone transformed it from a novelty instrument into a staple of American music. Formed in the late 19th century and led by Tom Brown, the group rose to prominence in the early 1900s, captivating audiences with their vibrant stage presence and a repertoire that spanned everything from ragtime to light classical tunes.
The Birth of the Six Brown Brothers
The story of the Six Brown Brothers begins in Canada, where Tom Brown, the eldest of the six musical siblings, first discovered the saxophone and its untapped potential. Born in the mid-19th century, Tom and his brothers hailed from a musical family in Lindsay, Ontario. As young men, they honed their craft playing in circus bands, a common path for many musicians during this era. Tom, in particular, developed an early fascination with the saxophone, an instrument that, while invented in the 1840s, was still considered a rarity in the late 1800s.
The group officially formed around the turn of the 20th century, with Tom leading his five brothers—William, Percy, Alec, Fred, and Vern—in performances that soon began attracting attention. Initially, their act was part of circus performances and small-time vaudeville shows, where they showcased the saxophone in ways audiences had never heard before. While many musicians of the day favored brass or string instruments, the Brown brothers took a chance on the relatively new saxophone, bringing its smooth, almost voice-like tones to popular tunes.
Their early career was defined by their ability to transition seamlessly from traditional brass instruments into this new world of saxophone performance. As the group moved from the circus ring to vaudeville stages, they built a reputation not just for their novelty—six brothers playing an unusual instrument—but for their impressive musicianship. They were able to blend the saxophone’s rich, mellow sound with energetic ragtime rhythms, charming audiences with their combination of humor, musical precision, and the distinct tonal qualities of the saxophone.
At a time when the saxophone was largely viewed as a novelty instrument, the Six Brown Brothers were instrumental in shifting public perception. They elevated the saxophone from its early associations with marching bands and circus performances, helping it gain traction as a legitimate instrument for jazz, ragtime, and popular music. Their influence laid the groundwork for the saxophone’s later dominance in jazz and big band music, making them pioneers of a sound that would soon sweep across the American musical landscape.
Vaudeville and Early Popular Music
As the Six Brown Brothers transitioned into the world of vaudeville, they quickly became a sensation on the stage, captivating audiences across North America. The vaudeville circuit in the 1910s and 1920s was a melting pot of entertainment, where audiences could see everything from comedians and acrobats to musicians and magicians, all in one show. For the Six Brown Brothers, this stage was the perfect platform to showcase their saxophone-driven performances, which blended musical skill with a comedic twist. Their act was a breath of fresh air, combining the novelty of a saxophone ensemble with the humor and showmanship that vaudeville demanded.
On the vaudeville stage, the Six Brown Brothers stood out for their ability to connect with audiences, not only through their music but through the lighthearted and often theatrical nature of their performances. Their shows were lively, fun, and packed with energy, making them a hit with audiences from coast to coast. The saxophone itself was still somewhat of an oddity in popular entertainment, and the brothers embraced its quirky, almost humorous quality, turning it into a centerpiece of their act. This comedic flair, combined with their undeniable musicianship, helped solidify their reputation as one of vaudeville’s most popular musical groups.
The Six Brown Brothers also had a significant impact on shaping early American popular music. At a time when ragtime and early jazz were just beginning to gain traction, the group’s playful use of the saxophone helped pave the way for the instrument’s entry into the mainstream. They took the upbeat rhythms of ragtime, the catchy melodies of popular tunes, and the lighthearted atmosphere of vaudeville, blending them into a sound that resonated with the public. Their performances contributed to a broader cultural shift, where the saxophone began to emerge as a central instrument in popular music, a trend that would only grow stronger in the years to come.
Musically, the Six Brown Brothers were known for their diverse repertoire. Their performances ranged from ragtime and early jazz to popular songs of the day, with comedic and novelty numbers sprinkled throughout. Their music was designed to entertain and amuse, often featuring whimsical melodies and humorous arrangements that perfectly matched the vaudevillian spirit. What set them apart was their ability to take these styles and elevate them with the saxophone, an instrument that had yet to find its place in many other forms of popular music. The Brown Brothers’ saxophone ensemble was unique for its time, helping to establish a distinct and influential sound in the early 20th-century musical landscape.
Recording Legacy
The Six Brown Brothers not only dominated the vaudeville stage but also left a lasting impression through their recordings, ensuring their music reached far beyond live audiences. In an era when the phonograph was revolutionizing the way people consumed music, the Six Brown Brothers took full advantage of this new technology, making a series of successful recordings that solidified their place in early American popular music. Their association with prominent record labels like Victor Records allowed them to capture their lively saxophone sound and bring it to homes across the country.
Among their most famous recordings were tunes that exemplified both their musical talent and their signature comedic touch. “That Moaning Saxophone Rag” became one of their most iconic pieces, combining the syncopated rhythms of ragtime with the mournful, almost playful sound of the saxophone. Another popular number, “Bullfrog Blues,” showcased their ability to blend humor with musicianship, offering audiences a delightful mixture of entertainment and musical skill. These recordings were not just hits in their time but have remained popular among enthusiasts of early 20th-century music, serving as prime examples of the Brown Brothers’ unique contribution to the era’s soundscape.
One of the most innovative aspects of the Six Brown Brothers’ music was how they demonstrated the versatility of the saxophone. Before their rise, the saxophone was mostly confined to classical and military band settings, where its rich, reedy tones were used to add depth and warmth to large ensembles. However, the Brown Brothers showed that the saxophone could do much more. In their hands, it became an instrument capable of a wide range of expressions, from the bouncy, upbeat tempos of ragtime to more soulful, bluesy melodies. They brought a playful and sometimes haunting quality to the instrument, proving that it could hold its own in both comedic and serious musical contexts.
The sound appeal of the Six Brown Brothers was rooted in their ability to blend humor, novelty, and technical proficiency in a way that set them apart from more traditional acts of the time. Their music was fun and lighthearted, filled with whimsical melodies and unexpected twists, yet always delivered with a level of precision that showed their mastery of the saxophone. This blend of novelty and musicianship made them stand out in an era when many acts leaned heavily on either technical skill or entertainment value—but rarely both. The Brown Brothers managed to fuse the two seamlessly, creating a sound that was as amusing as it was musically impressive.
Through their recordings, the Six Brown Brothers captured the imagination of early 20th-century listeners and left a legacy that continues to resonate with music historians and collectors today. Their innovative use of the saxophone and their unique approach to blending humor with musicianship paved the way for future generations of saxophonists and helped to cement the instrument’s role in the development of jazz and popular music.
Lasting Influence and Cultural Impact
The influence of the Six Brown Brothers extended far beyond their time on the vaudeville stage and in recording studios. Their pioneering work with the saxophone not only introduced this once-novel instrument to popular audiences but also helped shape the development of American music in the early 20th century. As jazz began to take root in the 1920s and 1930s, the groundwork laid by the Brown Brothers made the saxophone a natural fit for this emerging genre. Their playful yet technically skilled approach to the saxophone demonstrated its versatility, allowing future musicians to experiment with its sound in new ways.
The group’s contribution to jazz and popular music can be seen in the generations of saxophonists who followed in their footsteps. While the Six Brown Brothers were known for their novelty numbers and vaudevillian flair, they also demonstrated the instrument’s ability to convey emotion and artistry. This balance between humor and musicianship became a hallmark of the saxophone in jazz, where the instrument could swing from playful to poignant in a single phrase. The Brown Brothers helped legitimize the saxophone as a serious instrument for solo performance, which would later become a staple in jazz bands and big orchestras.
Culturally, the Six Brown Brothers helped make the saxophone a “cool” instrument. In the early 1900s, the saxophone had not yet attained the iconic status it would achieve in later decades. Through their charismatic performances and popular recordings, the Brown Brothers turned it into an instrument of style, associated with fun, novelty, and virtuosity. This cultural shift played a key role in how the saxophone became a defining sound of both the jazz age and the roaring twenties. Their costumes and playful stage personas also made them popular figures in the vaudeville circuit, where audiences came to see not just their music but the joy and humor they brought to their act.
As vaudeville declined in the 1920s and new forms of entertainment like radio and film began to dominate, the Six Brown Brothers gradually faded from the spotlight. However, their legacy endures. Recordings of their work are still celebrated by enthusiasts of early American music, and their innovative use of the saxophone remains a key moment in the history of the instrument. Their influence on later jazz and popular music cannot be overstated; they were trailblazers who helped shift the saxophone from a circus novelty to a central figure in American musical identity.
In the broader context of entertainment history, the Six Brown Brothers symbolize the transition from live stage performance to recorded music, a shift that would transform the way people consumed entertainment in the 20th century. Their recordings captured a moment in time when vaudeville and early jazz were merging, and their contribution to both the music industry and American popular culture remains a significant chapter in the history of modern music.
Further Listening
That Moaning Saxophone Rag
Bull Frog Blues
Egyptland
Peter Gink