b. Jocelyn Lorette Brown, 25th November 1950, Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Jocelyn Brown comes from a very musical family.
Her aunt, Barbara Roy, sung in the female group Ecstasy, Passion and Pain.
Her grandmother, mother, two aunts, and a cousin all were singers.
Jocelyn spent her pre-school years with her grandmother in Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.A.
ecstasy passion and pain
Her aunt's success with Ecstasy, Passion and Pain provided the inspiration for Jocelyn to spread her musical wings.
Beginning in church and singing with various gospel choirs out of Brooklyn, she built up a firm following, becoming a favoured soloist at her uncle's church in Washington, D.C.
Gradually, Jocelyn left the gospel genre for a more secular form of music, singing with local bands including Machine and Kleeer.
sir monty rock III
She was a member of Sir Monty Rock III's group Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, who reached the charts with with 'Get Dancing,' and Musique, who recorded 'Keep on Jumpin' and 'Push Push in the Bush.'
Jocelyn toured the globe extensively, also working with producer Greg Diamond on different projects, including the group Change, which featured Luther Vandross.
She toured with Change and undertook studio and live background vocals for a lengthy list of artists, including John Lennon, Roberta Flack, Janis Joplin, Dan Hartman, Bette Midler, George Benson and Boy George.
When the members of Change disbanded, Jocelyn started recording with other groups including Inner Life on Salsoul Records, where she performed solo on a disco version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', further establishing herself on the dance club circuit.
Throughout the late '70's and early '80's, Jocelyn recorded studio sessions along with a heavy tour schedule with various bands.
if i can't have your love - 1981 / i wish you would - 1984
In 1981, Jocelyn released, the Keith Barrow penned, 'If I Can't Have Your Love' on the Spring based Posse Records.
The track has become highly collectable amongst soul fans.
Around 1982 she worked on the movie 'Divine Madness', which starred Bette Midler.
Jocelyn later recorded 'Caught Up in a One Night Love Affair,' a very popular dancer in New York's disco clubs including Studio 54, Paradise Garage, The Fever, Harlem World and Bond's International.
sonebody else's guy - 1984 / one from the heart - 1987 / absolutely jocelyn brown - 1991 / serious feat. jocelyn brown - 1995
In the autumn of 1983, Jocelyn teamed up with her sister Annette and wrote 'Somebody Else's Guy,' her most popular recording to date.
The track reached the number two position of Billboard's Black singles chart and number 13 in the U.K.
In 1985, an acappella version of her tune 'Love Is Gonna Get You', was utilised by the U.K. band Snap with her vocals sampled with the line 'I Got The Power'.
In 1991, Jocelyn recorded with the U.K. band Incognito singing a version of Side Effects 'Always There'.
live - 1997 / circles - 2006 / unreleased - 2006 / true praises - 2010
She has appeared on Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa' LP, cut 'Ego Maniac' and 'Whatever Satisfies You' (produced by Hubert Eaves III), recorded sides as a duet with Kym Mazelle in 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)' and 'Love Me the Right Way.'
She also recorded 'Riding on the Wings' with Motiv 8 and appeared in concert with Roy Ayers and Ray Gaskins (her cousin) overseas.
Another cousin, La Rita Gaskins, is a singer and musician in New York.
Ray resides in London and is a noted saxophonist, songwriter and producer.
Jocelyn continues to write songs with her sister Annette, who also helps manage her family members' creative activities.
As with her brother, Jocelyn lives in London (since 1990) and continues to be an in demand vocalist.
A new outing was released in 2006, entitled 'Unreleased', along with another set entitled 'Circles'.
at happy days in esher, 2013
In June 2012 and June 2013, Jocelyn appeared at the Happy Days open air gig in Esher, Surrey.
Albums:
Somebody Else's Guy (Vinyl Dreams Records 1984)
One From The Heart (Jellybean Records1987)
Absolutely Jocelyn Brown (BR Music Records 1991)
Serious feat. Jocelyn Brown (Cutting Edge Records 1997)
Circles (Pony Canyon Records 2006)
Unreleased (Digisoul Records 2006)
True Praises (Kingsway Music Records 2010)
