Roy Brown (born 1950 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a composer, singer and a fervent believer in the cause for the independence of Puerto Rico.
Roy's parents moved to Florida soon after Roy was born. Roy (whose real name is Roy Brown Ramirez) was raised during turbulent times in the United States. Among the important issues of those days were racism, the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. After graduating from high school, his family returned to Puerto Rico.
Roy enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico. He enjoyed writing poems and while he was a student, he became actively involved in the independence movement of Puerto Rico. Roy was also involved in the student disturbances which spread throughout the university, by participating in the protest and picket lines.
During this period he wrote two songs, "Yo Protesto" (1970) (I Protest); and "Basta Ya, Revolucion" (1972) (Enough already, Revolution). Roy's personal life started to suffer because of his political beliefs. He got into trouble with the police, his father and brother didn't want anything to do with him and he was fired from his job in the university. His mother was also dying.
In the 1970s, Roy recorded "Roy Brown III"; "Profecia de Uravoan" (Profecies of Uravoan); and "Distancias" (Distances). He then moved to New York and formed a group called "Aires Bucaneros", which included Zoraida Santiago. The group traveled and performed in many countries such as Greece, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Cuba, Holland, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and etc. He recorded "Aires Bucaneros" (1978); "Casi Alba" (1980); "Nuyo" (1983); "Arboles" (Trees) (1988) and "Balada de Otro Tiempo" (1889) (Ballad of another Time).
In 1988, Roy returned to Puerto Rico and held a concert at the University of Puerto Rico which was a total sell-out. The first time he held a concert at the same place in the 1970's, only three people showed up.
Among Roys recordings in the 1990s were: "Distancias en Vivo" (1990) (Live Distances); "Poetas Puertorriqueños" (1991) (Puerto Rican Poets); "Nocturno" (1991) (Nightfall); "En Fuga" (1995) (Escaping); "Coleccion" (1996) (Colection); "Poeta en San Juan" (1999) (Poet in San Juan); "Noche de Roy Brown" (1999) (Roy Brown's Night); "Album" (2000) and "Balcon de fin del Mundo" (2004) (Balconey at the end of World).
On June 7, 2003, Roy let "WPKN" FM of Bridgeport, Connecticut, record on his set in the historic "Plaza de la Revolucion" in Lares, Puerto Rico. "WPKN" also recorded Roy's "Ofelia" live from the Nuyorican Cafe in Old San Juan.
On February 8, 2004, Roy held a concert in the Antonio Paoli Hall at the Luis A. Ferre Center of the Beautiful Arts in San Juan and the functions were all sold-outs. Celia Cruz and Lucecita Benitez are among the many artists who have recorded songs written by Roy.
See also
Last updated: 05-21-2005 01:57:49
