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Mapex, a leading name in the world of percussion, is excited to announce the newest addition to its prestigious artist roster: the legendary drummer, Gerry Brown. With a career spanning decades and an impressive resume featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Return To Forever, Stanley Clarke, Lionel Richie, and many others, Gerry Brown has solidified his status as a drumming icon.
Currently on tour with Diana Ross since 2000, Brown brings his unparalleled expertise and distinctive style to Mapex Drums. Commenting on his partnership with Mapex, Gerry Brown stated, “Mapex Drums makes my groove sound and feel more like myself than before. It’s a groovalicious thing!!”
Gerry Brown’s musical journey began in Philadelphia at the age of five, where he quickly established himself as a prodigious talent. Early collaborations with soul groups and a fruitful partnership with bassist John Lee during high school set the stage for his remarkable career. A pivotal move to New York in 1971 led to engagements with Lionel Hampton and, subsequently, a venture to the Netherlands in 1972 to join Chris Hinze’s rock jazz group.
As co-leaders with John Lee, Brown contributed to a series of albums in the 1970s and collaborated with renowned artists such as Jasper van ‘t Hof, Toto Blanke, Charlie Mariano, Eef Albers, and Gary Bartz. Notably, he played a key role in Larry Coryell’s The Eleventh House and showcased his talent at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1979 while accompanying Didier Lockwood.
Throughout the 1980s, Brown’s musical journey took him to Berlin, working with George Gruntz, Joachim Kühn, Chris Beckers, Herb Geller, Anne Haigis, and Kraan. His return to the United States in 1986 marked a significant moment as he succeeded Billy Cobham in Consortium, a position he held for an impressive 14 years.
From 1992 to 2004, Gerry Brown served as the drummer for the iconic Stevie Wonder and has held the drumming position for Diana Ross since 2000. His impact as a sideman is evident in collaborations with George Benson, Michal Urbaniak, Urszula Dudziak, Marcus Miller, Lionel Richie, Sonny Fortune, Alphonso Johnson, Roberta Flack, Joe Sample, Tom Harrell, Dave Samuels, Chuck Loeb, The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, the NDR Bigband (The Spirit of Jimi Hendrix), and Phil Collins.
Beyond his performances, Gerry Brown has contributed to music education, co-producing the instructional video “R&B Drumming – Featuring Gerry Brown and his Motown Sound” with bassist Nathan Watts. Gerry Brown’s enduring impact on the drumming world is a testament to his exceptional talent and versatile contributions to the global music scene.
For more information about Mapex Drums and Gerry Brown, please visit HERE.
About Gerry Brown
Gerry Brown is a renowned drummer with a career spanning several decades. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his impressive list of collaborations includes iconic names such as Stevie Wonder, Return To Forever, Stanley Clarke, Lionel Richie, and many others. Currently on tour with Diana Ross since 2000, Gerry Brown brings his unparalleled talent and unique style to Mapex Drums, where he continues to shape the landscape of contemporary drumming.
About Mapex Drums
The brand MAPEX was coined as an acronym for Music And Percussion EXcellenceand reflects our understanding of the relationship between a performer and their instrument; the hybrid of musicianship and instrument that distinguishes a great musician from a great player. Learning from tradition but willing to challenge it, we respect the heritage of drum-building craft while embracing modern science to further its evolution.
