Unforgettable People (XXIX): Steve Brown

Steve Brown (born 16 January 1955, Edgware, north London, England) started his career in the music industry with Elton John, joining the band as drummer Nigel Olsen's personal road manager. After producing Elton’s first album “Empty Sky”, he felt Elton needed a more experienced producer for the follow-up. He met Elton’s producer Gus Dudgeon and was given the opportunity to sit in on mixing sessions at Trident studios London. This lead to Steve applying for a studio job at Phonogram (now Universal).

Steve joined Elton John band as road manager in May 1972 and on the 25th September of the same year, started work, alongside ex-schoolfriend Steve Lillywhite at Phonogram's Marble Arch studios. Steve was quickly promoted to Recording Engineer and worked with artists such as Roy Wood's Wizzard, Thin Lizzy, Status Quo, Dire Straits and many more.

He became a freelance producer in 1981, and worked with: ABC ("Tears are not Enough" top 20 single); Wham! ("Fantastic" number 2 album); The Godfathers ("Birth School Work Death" hit single & "Unreal World" album) and Alison Moyet ("Love Letters" number 4 Christmas single)... to name a few.

Having engineered some of Britain’s finest heavy guitar acts Brown found it very difficult to get back into the world of rock as a producer of the hottest pop act in the world. He approaches many of his old contacts but none of them would trust him with their production. He took a three year sabatical to study marketing specifically in new media.

Currently in pre-production with singer songwriter and virtuoso flamenco guitarist Jackson Scott and in discussions with Vancouvers contemporary folk artist Carolyna Loveless .

Steve is a founder member of W.A.R. (Worldwide Aid Recordings) a self-help new generation fair trade music company.

Sources from www.stevebrown.info and wikipedia)