Friday afternoon felt like a homecoming of sorts as family, friends and admirers of Oscar Brown Jr. gathered under sunny skies at Harper Court to celebrate the artist during what would have been his 100th birthday year.
Hosted by his daughters, Maggie and Africa Brown, the event honored the singer, songwriter, playwright and poet through stories and live music.
Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun recalled meeting Brown while walking near the Harper Theater early in her political career.
“I was just starting out to get political,” Braun said. “And he was rehearsing over there at the theater. I was just a kid, and I walked in.”
Braun said Brown and his wife welcomed her warmly.
“I remember people who were nice to me,” she said.
Former U.S. Sen. and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun speaks during the Oscar Brown Jr. Centennial Celebration at Harper Court, July 10, 2026.
Born in Chicago on Oct. 10, 1926, Brown built a career that, according to his HistoryMakers biography, “defied narrow definition.”
His breakthrough 1960 album, “Sin & Soul,” blended jazz and spoken word, challenged traditional jazz lyricism and helped pave the way for musicians to weave social and political themes into their work.
Jazz singer Billy Eckstine praised the album during a 1961 DownBeat “Blindfold Test,” saying: “I think I know who this is — a fellow named Oscar Brown.”
“And what he’s done with this is put a lyric to an instrumental … I like this. Four stars.”
Performers at Friday’s celebration included The Brown Sisters (Maggie and Africa Brown), saxophonist Ernest Dawkins and his youth ensemble The Young Masters, as well as several spoken-word artists.
Saxophonist Ernest Dawkins performs with members of The Young Masters during the Oscar Brown Jr. Centennial Celebration at Harper Court, July 10, 2026.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.hpherald.com ’
