Danny Joe Brown
Encyclopedia
Danny Joe Brown, was a member of the Southern rock
group Molly Hatchet
, and singer and co-writer of the band's biggest hits from the late 1970s.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida
in 1951 and graduated from Terry Parker High School
in 1969. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard
and was stationed in New York for two years. Once he left the Coast Guard, Brown's focus turned solely to music and joined Molly Hatchet in 1974.
He is best known for writing and singing on such songs as "Flirtin' with Disaster
", and "Whiskey Man"; he was also the vocalist on "Dreams I'll Never See", a faster tempoed cover
of the Allman Brothers song. The band's sound was immediately recognizable by Brown's distinct voice, a deep, raspy, throaty growl.
Brown left Molly Hatchet
in 1980 because of chronic diabetes
and pancreatic problems, but soon started his own band, The Danny Joe Brown Band
, which released a single studio album in 1981. He later rejoined Molly Hatchet in 1982, only to leave again in 1995 after suffering a stroke
. He died at his home in Davie, Florida
, at the age of 53, in March 2005. His obituary attributed his death to renal failure
, a complication of the diabetes he had since age 19.
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
group Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
, and singer and co-writer of the band's biggest hits from the late 1970s.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
in 1951 and graduated from Terry Parker High School
Terry Parker High School
Terry Parker High School is a public high school in the Duval County Public School district, located in Jacksonville, Florida. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.-Namesake:...
in 1969. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
and was stationed in New York for two years. Once he left the Coast Guard, Brown's focus turned solely to music and joined Molly Hatchet in 1974.
He is best known for writing and singing on such songs as "Flirtin' with Disaster
Flirtin' with Disaster (song)
"Flirtin' with Disaster" is a song by the southern rock band Molly Hatchet. It is the only single from the band's second album, Flirtin' with Disaster. The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, peaking at 42. The song is Molly Hatchet's most famous, and has appeared in the film The...
", and "Whiskey Man"; he was also the vocalist on "Dreams I'll Never See", a faster tempoed cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Allman Brothers song. The band's sound was immediately recognizable by Brown's distinct voice, a deep, raspy, throaty growl.
Brown left Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
in 1980 because of chronic diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and pancreatic problems, but soon started his own band, The Danny Joe Brown Band
The Danny Joe Brown Band
The Danny Joe Brown Band was founded by lead singer Danny Joe Brown in 1980. Danny Joe Brown had just left the southern rock band Molly Hatchet, which had followed in the footsteps of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Outlaws to achieve wide national success with two multi-platinum albums and international...
, which released a single studio album in 1981. He later rejoined Molly Hatchet in 1982, only to leave again in 1995 after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He died at his home in Davie, Florida
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands...
, at the age of 53, in March 2005. His obituary attributed his death to renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
, a complication of the diabetes he had since age 19.