Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 20, 1994 TAG: 9405200040
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But in the near future, he's likely to be singing for Foot Locker or Federal Express or Walt Disney World or Visa or Raisinettes, too.
Brown, who for the past year and a half has been minister of music at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Roanoke, is finalizing an arrangement to work for New York-based Sicurella and Associates writing advertising jingles.
His fans in Roanoke shouldn't get upset too quickly. Even if the deal goes through, Brown says he's planning to commute back to Roanoke - his home base - on weekends. He also is working on a recording deal with Aquilla Records in New York and possibly with the religious publishing and recording giant Word Inc. in England.
It was just about a year and a half ago that Brown came to the Roanoke church from a position with a Newport News drug-treatment program. Brown told his story of having crippled a successful musical career - writing tunes for commercials and working as a session keyboard player - by getting involved with drugs.
During his time at the Newport News center, he not only conquered his drug additions, but went on to become director of its men's facility.
Though it was through his professional music contacts that Brown was first exposed to drugs, he says he's not worried that old temptations will cause him problems as he prepares to re-enter that environment.
"I have no anxiety about that," Brown, 38, said.
Part of that calm may come from the fact that he's already been actively touring as a performer and has recorded songs for two cassettes.
The first package of eight songs are all original tunes, recorded in a Greensboro, N.C., studio. The style ranges from hip hop to gospel to Christian contemporary. That is the album whose release is being celebrated in a concert Saturday at 7 p.m. at North Cross School, Virginia 419 and Colonial Avenue Southwest, which is also where Church of the Holy Spirit meets each Sunday morning.
Admission is free but an offering will be taken.
Brown also has recorded a collection of favorite hymns that should be available for sale at the concert.
His original songs, Brown said, reflect his own upbeat attitude about the Christian life. "The Bible says there are going to be difficult times, but Jesus is with us."
Brown's own attitude toward the tough times has been changed, he said, by his volunteer work with a Roanoke hospice, nursing homes and prisons. The people he's come in contact with have "taught me about what is really important in life."
One cancer patient, in particular, "really challenged me," Brown said, accomplishing "more from her bed in one year than most people do in a lifetime."
Brown, who recently returned from a concert tour in England, is now looking ahead to performing in Australia during late July and early August. He may tour in Europe again next year.
"The Lord has been very faithful to me," Brown said. "I feel the Lord has opened the doors. This is something I have to do that has nothing to do with celebrity or fame or money."
Michael Brown: Saturday, 7 p.m. at North Cross School, Roanoke.
by CNB