First Duet Ever

It was 1961 when Houston jazz/blues legend, vocalist, Jewel Brown, began an 8-year, non-stop, around-the-world tour with one of the country’s most popular recording artists, Louis Armstrong. Despite being considered one of America’s finest voices at the time, she dropped out of show business at the end of the 60’s to care for her ailing mother. Today at 85 years of age, and with the help of some local musicians, Jewel Brown is making a comeback!

Houston songwriter Zach Tate wasn’t even close to being born when Brown started with Armstrong but the two recently got together at Wire Road Studios in Houston for an uptempo blues duet called “Fallin’ For You”. The song was released on all global digital music streaming platforms in early November of this year and made its Houston broadcast radio debut on KPFT 90.1 FM November 17th, 2022.

Though written in 2021 by Tate, “Fallin’ For You” as the duet it is today was 10 years in the making Tate said. Tate met Brown around 2012 after seeing her perform at Danton’s Sunday jazz brunch with BB King guitarist, Milton Hopkins. “After watching Ms. Brown on stage I was inspired and immediately drawn to her style.

I thought that if ever I wrote a song that might suit her vocally I’d give it to her to consider recording. I wasn’t sure at first it could be a duet but after working it out with the band it seemed like a possibility. I was still very nervous asking her to sing with me even though we’d known each other for ten years,” Tate said.

As fate would have it, Brown (seven years since recording her last project with the throwback Japanese horn band, Bloodest Saxophone in 2014) agreed to record with Tate. “I had fun doing something I had never done before! In my 76 years of entertaining I had never done a duet!” Brown said.

Also on the new track with the Zach Tate Band and Brown is renowned Houston blues guitarist, the Mighty Orq on lead guitar. Orq worked with Tate on his 2012 CD “End of Time” and performs regularly at Houston blues clubs.

In addition to her duet with Tate, Brown is preparing to release an album of mostly new and original material composed with Houston producer (by way of New Orleans) Nic Allen. “Thanks For Good Ole Music and Memories” is due out January 13th of 2023 and Brown is excited about the potential. “We’ve been told (by some music insiders) we should be submitting the CD to the Grammy Awards for their consideration. It’s jazz and R&B and pop… We just don’t know what category to put it in!”.

“Thanks For Good Ole Music and Memories” is due out January 13th of 2023 and Brown is excited about the potential. “We’ve been told (by some music insiders) we should be submitting the CD to the Grammy Awards for their consideration. It’s jazz and R&B and pop… We just don’t know what category to put it in!”

Genres aside, one thing is for sure, Jewel Brown belongs in the inspiration category! Since her first performance at 3rd Ward Houston’s famed El Dorado Ballroom in 1949 at age 12, Jewel Brown has proven again and again that music can be an ageless profession and creativity and art ought not be limited or measured by time.

“Fallin’ For You” written by Zach Tate. Zach Tate and Jewel Brown, vocals. The Mighty Orq, lead guitar. Gary Graham, keys. Tim Treadway, guitar. Rick Barnett, bass. Pete Sanchez, drums, and backing vocals. Steve Kyle, backing vocals. Recording engineer, Andy Bradley. Produced by Zach Tate and Andy Bradley. Recorded in Houston, TX at Wire Road Studios. Visit www.ZachTate.com to listen.