Severin Browne

Severin Browne performs solo to packed house concerts, intimate listening rooms, and even an occasional almost-rowdy bar crowd with friends from his SoCal roots. He is a sought-after guest in many singer-songwriter festivals and shows, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished performers in the Los Angeles area. Severin’s easy manner in front of an audience makes it seem as if playing his guitar and singing his songs is effortless and second-nature. His brilliant lyrics invite listeners into the songs while his solid melodies carry the story from one note to the next. His delightful and inviting delivery has charmed audiences for almost 40 years. Severin Browne was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1949 to a musical family. Severin's father, Clyde Jack Browne, was a native Californian who was in Germany with the U.S. Army newspaper, The Stars & Stripes. He had met Severin's mother, Beatrice Dahl, while stationed in Alaska and she had followed him to Germany when he was transferred there. Shortly after Severin was born, the Browne family (Jack, Bea, Roberta, Jackson, and Severin) returned to California and moved into the home that was built by Severin's grandfather in the 1920s. The Spanish style home in an old part of Los Angeles and is where Severin spent much of his childhood. Severin comes from a musical family, and all the kids were expected to learn to play an instrument. Severin started first on accordion before moving on to saxophone, then drums. Finally at the age of ten he began playing guitar. Then a few years later, piano. His brother Jackson, a talented singer/songwriter who as recorded many albums for the Asylum/Elektra labels, first learned to play cornet before taking up guitar and piano also. Severin recalls playing drums in the Garvanza Elementary School band, where Jackson played first chair cornet. In 1970, Severin auditioned for the publishing arm of Motown Records, not as an artist but as a songwriter. He remembers that Berry Gordy, the owner and president of Motown, came into his interview and asked if he wanted to make a record, to which Severin answered, “No, I just want to write songs.” So after turning 21, Severin signed a staff-writing deal with Motown. Severin didn't seem to be in such a big hurry to make that first record. In fact, he spent the better part of a year trying to find the right producer. As he recalled later, "All the Motown producers wanted to do was to make their own record... so I just bided my time until I found Larry Murray who had written a lot of things for Johnny Cash including Cash's film, 'Gospel Road'."Severin's debut album was released on Motown records in 1973. People who appreciate music will pick up on the great melodies and smooth vocals of Severin Browne when they hear his debut album, titled simply Severin Browne. The songs on the album cover a lot of subjects, but they all come from Severin's life experiences. Most of the cuts on the album feature, in addition to his savory vocals, Severin's acoustic guitar and piano work. The track, "All American Boy and His Dog" has a great honky-tonk feeling with lyrics like "Shut down, thrown out, like an old motor scooter that's not worth the repair." "Sister" is a beautiful song with a touching metaphysical theme. Severin'smsubject matter always reflects his growth as an individual as well as an artist. Severin's second album for the Motown label, New Improved Severin Browne, was released in 1974. The album features a cast of stellar studio musicians and some very fine songwriting. Severin has admitted to being a romantic, a trait no more apparent than in the song "Love Notes from Denver," which chronicles an experience in his own life. Whether the atmosphere is the purity of "Beginning To Believe," the upbeat plaintiveness of "Do Magnolia Do," or the subtly seductive "Tickle My Lips," the listener cannot resist becoming totally involved. Severin has named his greatest music influences as Paul Simon, James Taylor, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and his brother, Jackson. At the age of 25 he left Motown and swore he would not make another record. He kept that promise for 20 years before finally releasing his third album, From the Edge Of The World, in 1995. This album shows the growth that can come from 20 years of life's experiences and is infused with an amazing flair for great melody and lyrics. Songs like "My Love Mo Betta" and "Uptown" showcase Severin's inspired soul and R&B flair; "Edge of The World" is a great rocker with a strong Jackson Browne feel, and even includes Jackson doing some vocals; "Leaving You's The Hardest Thing I've Known" and "If I Loved You" show that Severin has not lost the great '70s pop feel that was such a major part of his earlier recordings. Severin's 2001 album, This Twisted Road, showcases Severin at the very top of his profession as both a singer and songwriter. Ten finely crafted tunes about the failures and successes of life are brought together as few songwriters have been able to achieve. This wonderful set includes songs of love ("Water"), songs of growth ("My Midlife Crisis"), songs of contemplation ("Do You Think I'll Go to Heaven") and songs of life in Los Angeles ("Angelyne"). In other words, something for everyone as we all travel "This Twisted Road" called life... It would be another decade before Severin released a new CD. During that time, he wrote and performed constantly, while also teaching guitar and songwriting. Severin latest solo CD is called Lucky Man - A Songwriter's Notebook and includes thirteen new songs from Severin's ever-growing catalog of songs. The CD was self-released in early 2012. The eclectic mix of songs and styles are some of Severin's best... directly from his notebook! Produced by Severin Browne, Edward Tree, Jeff Kossack and Holland McRae, the variety and quality of the songs is impressive. In 2012, Severin began meeting with five friends each month to give and receive songwriting assignments. After 8 months or so, they began to play as a band. The Tall Men Group (Ed Tree, Marty Axelrod, Jeff Kossack, Jimmy Yessian, John Stowers and Severin Browne) have now made three CDs of the songs that they have written from their monthly challenges. Look them up on Facebook and find their music at CD Baby and wherever great music is sold. Severin is still living in Southern California in the home built almost 100 years ago by his grandfather. He still performs regularly in various locations around Southern California, including his regular "First Friday" showcase with his band of highly irregulars at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood. If you would like to see this show but do not live in the area, it is live on the worldwide web at https://www.concertwindow.com/121537-severin-browne http://www.severinbrowne.com