Background
Brown was born in Cordele, Georgia.
Brown was born in Cordele, Georgia.
In the 1930s and 1940s he played harmonica at local clubs and made a few non-commercial recordings. Brown moved to New York in 1956, where he was discovered by Fire Records owner Bobby Robinson. In 1959, at almost fifty years of age, Brown recorded the rustic blues, "Fannie Mae", which featured Brown"s harmonica playing and whoops, which went to # 38 in the United States. Top 40, and to #1 on the Rhythm & Blues chart in April 1960.
His remake of Louis Jordan"s "Is You Is or Is You Ain"t My Baby" reached # 81 on the popular charts later in 1960, but did not make the Rhythm & Blues chart.
"Sugar Babe" was his only other hit, in 1962, reaching # 19 on the Rhythm & Blues chart and # 99 on the popular chart. In later years he recorded for Checker Records and for numerous small record labels.
He also co-wrote the song "Doctor Brown" with J. T. Brown, which was later covered by Fleetwood Mac on their 1968 album, Mr. Wonderful.
Brown died in New York in 1976, at the age of 64.
lieutenant is often erroneously cited that Brown"s real name was "Wayman Glasco" - however, that was Brown"s manager who, after his death, bought all of Brown"s publishing - thus unintentionally creating the confusion.
Though likely a nickname, or alias, Buster Brown may have been his birth name.