Tuesday 30 April 2013

Best Dressed Beggar In Town


BEST DRESSED BEGGAR IN TOWN

There is very little information on Brownie Johnson on the Internet.
I purchased a 45 rpm single by him 'The Best Dressed Beggar in Town' b/w 'Just Pretending', this is country music in the style of Johnny Cash and Jim Reeves, it was released in the UK in 1962 on the Longhorn record label. I believe it is the same Brownie Johnson that released 'The Sun Would Never Shine' (a cool rockabilly number) on the Lynn record label in 1958. 


Photo above is a scan from the White label LP 'Rock-A-Billy Again'

The photo above comes from the 1956 'West End High School', Birmingham, Alabama yearbook. This looks remarkably like the Brownie Johnson on the 'Rock-a-billy Again' LP. But this has been unconfirmed. 
Another release came from 1978, 'Little Boy Blue' b/w 'Deal Me in Again'. If anyone has any more information on Brownie Johnson give me a holler and help me fill in the gaps.

'BEST DRESSED BEGGAR IN TOWN'
'JUST PRETENDING'
'THE SUN WOULD NEVER SHINE'
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9 comments:

  1. Log Cabin Stories30 April 2013 at 08:02

    "Best Dressed Beggar in Town" was written by Buck Turner, who sang with the Dixieland Drifters in the Chattanooga area. He also recorded with them/and solo for Hap, Do-Ra-Me and other labels, including a version of "Best Dressed Beggar" for Do-Ra-Me. Johnson was also active in Tennessee around the same time. Johnson's version was originally released on Starday's Nashville Records in '62. Oh by the way: Lynn Records was Johnson's own label.

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  2. Unknown30 April 2013 at 09:13

    Thanks again Mellow, you are one knowledgeable dude!
    Do you think the 1956 year book photo is the same Brownie?

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  3. Apesville1 May 2013 at 05:32

    Nashville (TN) 45 - 5049 (1962)

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  4. Apesville1 May 2013 at 05:36

    http://countrydiscography.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/brownie-johnson.html

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  5. Log Cabin Stories1 May 2013 at 08:14

    Duke, the guy looks a lot like him so I would guess it's the same Brownie Johnson, which suggests he originated from Alabama or at least spent some time there.

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  6. Unknown1 May 2013 at 08:30

    Cheers chaps!

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  7. Unknown17 January 2014 at 19:36

    I came across your page while googling my grandfather. I am shocked to see anything on the internet about him or his music. I am the only daughter of Brownie's youngest daughter. The second photo from Birmingham, AL is not him I can say with 100% certainty. He did not attend school in AL nor did he ever live there.

    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Unknown17 January 2014 at 23:38

      Thank you for replying Shelby. I'll leave the WRONG school photo up for a little time, so anyone coming across this blog for the first time can see the photo and my error in question.
      I purchased two Longhorn Records about the same time (1978) the other being by Ray Pressley. But the 45 by Ray had an information sheet of paper that came with it giving a brief bio on Ray. The single by your Brownie did not have any information with it, that's what got me interested in finding out more about your grandfather. Unfortunately as you said there is very little info on the Internet on Brownie Johnson.

      Delete
  8. Apesville5 December 2018 at 03:04

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8A3rKghwNE

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