Russell W. Brown

Russell W. Brown – High School Band Director. Although David Baker claimed that jazz was not Russell Brown’s greatest strength as a musician, Brown was incredibly influential on a long list of Crispus Attucks students who went on to become jazz greats. They include David Baker, J.J. Johnson, James Spaulding, Wes Montgomery, Slide Hampton, Willis Kirk, and Melvin Rhyne. Baker recalls that Brown worked very hard at instilling an interest in jazz and gave jazz instruction after school. Brown also taught an earlier group of musicians, who formed the Brown Buddies around 1930. Named in honor of their former teacher, the Brown Buddies launched the careers of members Beryl Steiner, Roger Jones, and Reunald Jones, who all found work with major bands in New York City.