Teddy Brown was an American musician and entertainer who became one of the most distinctive and popular variety performers of his generation.
Born Abraham Himmelbrand in New York in 1900, Brown began his musical career in the United States, performing as a percussionist and playing with a number of leading orchestras. Although an accomplished drummer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, it was his extraordinary skill on the xylophone that made him famous.
Brown arrived in Britain during the 1920s and quickly became a favourite with British audiences. Performing on a specially made extended-range xylophone, his remarkable speed, musicianship and larger-than-life personality earned him billing as “The World’s Greatest Xylophonist.” His act combined virtuoso playing with comedy, whistling and entertaining patter, making him perfectly suited to the music hall and variety stages of the period.
During his successful career, Brown performed at many of Britain’s leading theatres and nightclubs, including the Café de Paris, and appeared in the 1931 Royal Variety Performance. He also appeared on screen in productions including Elstree Calling, On the Air, Variety Parade and Convict 99.
A proud member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, Teddy Brown was elected King Rat for 1946. Tragically, his reign was cut short when he died suddenly following a performance at the Wolverhampton Hippodrome. His immediate Past King Rat, the legendary Bud Flanagan, stepped back into the role and completed the remainder of the year.
Teddy Brown is remembered as an outstanding musician, a colourful showbusiness personality and a much-loved Brother Water Rat whose energy and talent left a lasting impression on British variety.
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