Clifford Brown

Clifford Brown was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 30, 1930
Started on trumpet at age 13.
Learned piano and rudimentary arranging in addition to trumpet.
Obtained a music scholarship at the University of Delaware which had, at the time, no music department. Studied mathematics as a freshman
Attended Maryland State College, which had a good jazz band for which Clifford played and wrote.
Began sitting in on various gigs with jazz celebs such as Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, and Charlie Parker.
Clifford was severely injured in a June, 1950 car accident and was hospitalized for almost a year.
Recording debut with R&B group Chris Powell's Blue Flames in March, 1952.
Recorded with Lou Donaldson in '53.
Invited to play with Max Roach in November of 1953. This was the combo for which Roach and Brownie were best known.
Clifford, pianist Richie Powell and wife, were killed in a car accident during the early morning hours of June 26, 1956. They were on their way to meet Roach for a gig in Chicago when Powell's car, driven by his wife, skidded off the wet Pennsylvania Turnpike.