About:

Gregory D. Brown

Born and raised in Lake Charles, La. Shortly after after High School I joined the US Air Force serving 4 years as a Security Specialist at Eglin AFB Florida. Married over 42 years with 4 grown children.

Career Highlights

• 1976-1979- Director of the Eglin Brotherhood Choir - Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Fl.

• 1978  1st place in the Vocal Group Category as the bass singer with the Vocal Group “Mellow Blend” and also won the Best of Show Award overall at the U.S. Air Force; Worldwide Level Talent show. A 4 week competition with over 400+ Contestants.  Sinbad once participated in that same competition.  Nominated to tour with "Tops in Blue" a traveling entertainment troupe touring every Air Force Base for 1 full year.

• 1980-1982 Performed with the Northwest Florida State College Choir and Orchestra 4 semesters under the baton of Mr. John Leatherwood.  Classical performances in various languages.  1982-1992- Minister of Music at Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church of   Ft. Walton Beach, Fl.

• 1991-1992 Piano/Voice instructor at the Mancini School of Music and Performing Arts Center.  Ft. Walton Beach Florida.   

• 1992 Instructed/Directed 150 Voice All-star Choral Review Choir consisting of contestants in the USAF Worldwide Talent Contest with US Air Force"Tops in Blue" touring band as backing band at the specific request of Mr. Tom Edwards-Chief of Air Force Entertainment.  (Tops in Blue once provided halftime entertainment for Superbowl XIX.

• 1997- 1999 Private piano/voice instructor at Eglin Air Force Base Skills Development Center.

• 1997 –  Current day Founded/Opened/Operate  5 Smooth Stones Music Studio LLC. (WWW.Smoothstonesmusic.com)   Instruct students in private piano and/or voice lessons including Music Theory and Aural Theory training for the past 29+ years.

• Recorded, produced and prepared various instrumentalists and vocal students for auditions as Disney Characters, College Scholarships, Talent Shows at local, regional, and national levels, and Cruise ship entertainers

• 1998 Vocal performance at Carnegie Hall, Manhattan N.Y .under the baton of  English Maestro John Rutter from London,  accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble, performing the Complete “Messiah”  score by George F. Handel.

• 2004 Pianist for the University of West Florida (Pensacola, Fl.) Jazz Big Band.

• 2003- 2004 Pianist the University of West Florida Jazz Quintet

• 2006 Composed and co-wrote music score for short film  “Flawed Proposal” as an entry in the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

• 2007 Released Debut CD “Songs of My Father” Oct 13, 2007.  12 tracks of  Smooth/Fusion/Latin Jazz Instrumentals.    

• 2013 Oct 27.  Produced, recorded, and wrote title song for musical artist Mr. Reid Soria from the "Autism Sings" Record Label Debut CD  "Imagine the Possibilities"

• 2014 Feb. 28 Musical director for the Stage Play "Generations: A Collection of Black American Music" A stage production written and directed by Mr. Mike Smith, a former singer with “The Sounds of Blackness” out of Minneapolis, Minn.

• 2017 June commissioned to compose, arrange, orchestrate and produce 2 full cd's of  Brazillian and other Ethnic and World themed songs for Mrs. Mary Schwartz under the Prayercore Label in addition to 4 separate tracks on a 3rd Cd.

• 2014 November - Rehearsal Pianist for the Joffrey Ballet Company of New York City that was conducting a Masterclass Contemporary Ballet/Auditions  under the direction of choreographer/Artistic Director Mr. Davis Robertson. 

• 2015 -2017 Keyboardist for 10 piece show band "En'trigue" of Pensacola Florida,  performed at major civic/social functions and Smooth Jazz Festivals.

EDUCATION

Associate of Arts degree - Voice Major - Northwest Florida State College College, Niceville, Florida

Jazz Piano Performance Major University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida

Bachelor of Arts  Summa Cum Laude– Music Composition for Film, Television and Video games Berklee School of Music

Master of Arts – Currently enrolled as a Music Composition for Film, Television, and Video Games, Think Space Academy which is Accredited by Arts University Bournmout – Bournemouth, England.