Biography
Royce Brown





















"An unusually talented and gifted young man with extraordinary charisma and major stage presence that electrifies
and captivates audiences," stated Dr. Moshe Paranov, cofounder of the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.

William Royce Brown, Jr., is a multi-talented Artist, who has proved to be one of this decades most powerful and
versatile vocalist. Royce has spent years of refining his vocal talents and like the finest of rare wines he is ready for
the world to feast on his soulful melodic singing style. His talents however are not limited to singing only. Royce plays
the piano/violin/ and harmonica. He also writes, arranges and produces his own material.

A native of Indian Head, Maryland Royce became involved in many musical activities that helped to enhance his
special musical talents.  He began his formal vocal training at the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in
Washington, DC where he received his Artist Diploma in Voice Performance.  In 1990 He went on to attend the
Interlochen National Arts Academy in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Royce got his first taste of operetta.  Royce played
the role of Strephen in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe.  His studies in Opera began at the North Carolina School of
the Arts in Winston Salem, NC.  During his rewarding time at the NCSA, he performed the title role of Albert Herring
in Albert Herring and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors.  Mr. Brown had the opportunity to travel for the first time to
New York, NY at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and in Philadelphia, PA as soloist performing Handle’s
“Magnificat” Op. 157 with the NCSA Symphony Orchestra.  Royce also performed in the chorus of Verdi’s Il
Travitore while in NC with the Greensboro Opera Company, NC.

In 1992, Royce transferred to the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music
degree in Opera/Vocal Performance.  While attending Hartt, Royce performed recitals, oratorios, scenes and
operas with leading roles in La Boheme as Rodolfo and Guillot  in Massanet’s Manon, Franz in Les Conters D’
Hoffman, Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutti, King Kasper in Amahl and the Nights Visitors and Bill in Hand of Bridge.  He
performed as a guest soloist with the Hartt School Chorus and Orchestra in New York at the Lincoln Center in the
Alice Tully Hall.  Other guest appearances included Connecticut Opera Express, Connecticut Concert Opera,
Hartford Symphony, Bristol Symphony, New Britain Symphony, and the Kennedy Center Symphony.













While being the youngest of (4) boys it is no surprise that a great deal of musical talent became deeply rooted in
Royce's very own soul. His mother was the Choir Director of their family's church. His father played lead guitar and
sang back up for "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles", and His Grandfather was the lead singer of the Mitchell
Christian Singers back in the early 1930’s and the first black Gospel group to ever perform at Carnagie Hall. As
early as elementary age, Royce has been mesmerized by the vocal styles of Great Artists, artists such as: Sarah
Vaughan, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin,
Celien Deion, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, and the Isley Brothers. When asked what was so special about these
artists, Royce replied, "These are what I call REAL singers; they all are wonderfully expressive and passionate in
their delivery. I knew when I heard them just by their picture perfect phrasing alone, that those folks knew what they
were doing. They made any and everyone actually feel the power and magic behind their music." Although these
artists had a profound affect upon Royce, it was a friendly challenge from his late older brother Bobby, who was a
great singer and instrumentalist in his own right, that lead to Royce auditioning for the Duke Ellington School where
his formal studies in classical music began. It didn't take long for Royce to realize that he did not want to rely entirely
on his natural gifts and talents. So, along with the acceptance of his brother's challenge and winning audition, Royce
set out on a journey that would culminate in a wealth of education and performance experience.

As for his performance agenda, Royce has been found tearing down the house at the Apollo Theater in NY, where
he was a 2x winner in 1995, The 1995 Miss America Pageant and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts. As an opening act, Royce has opened for the Grammy Award winning female R&B recording group - Pure
Soul.  In 2001 Royce was signed to FranGar Entertainment in association with the recording artist “Usher” launching
his recording career.  His recordings have been played on WHUR radio stations in Washington, DC.  While on tour
at the Detroit Music festival in Tiger Stadium Royce performed on a showcase along with great acts such as, The
Temptations, The Dramatics, and India Arie to name a few. In 2002 after attending the 44th annual Grammy Awards
in LA, Royce had the honor of performing live on the television set of the "D.L. Hugely Show's seasons finally" in Los
Angles, CA. Royce has also shared the stage with the Diva herself, Ms. Patti LaBell during her “Say My Name” tour
in 2004. Royce has also sung on live performances with Cee Cee Winnans at Washington Hillton Hotel in
Washington, DC and with Ms. Faith Evans at the Village Underground in NY hosted by Mr. Ron Grant of Sony
Records. Royce full filled one of his biggest dreams of performing off Broadway in Boston, MA by performing the
leading role as Jean Valjean in the Tony Award winning musical "Les Miserables". Royce also was delighted and
honored to share the stage with Tony Award winning Broadway Diva of "Cats", Miss. Betty Buckley. In the winter of
2005, He joined the cast of “Mamma I want to Sing” and went on a European tour of Japan along with the Harlem
Gospel Singers of NY and Vy Higginson and performed at “The Blue Note” in Osaka and Fukuoko Japan.  Following
his Japan tour Royce moved to Birmingham, AL to be near his mother whose hometown is Birmingham, AL.  While
being new and still adjusting to Alabama, Royce heard about the Sickle Cell Foundation holding auditions at Work
Play for “Showtime at the Apollo” Birmingham.  After being accepted as one of the many contestants Royce
competed and was awarded 1st place winner of Showtime at the Apollo Birmingham 2006. In 2006 Royce was
signed to CBS Records and is now in the recording studio working on a Gospel/Praise & Worship CD which is well
on its way for release.  Royce Brown is truly an anointed vocalist whose passion is to serve God and advance God’s
Kingdom here on earth. His star stellar sound and texture has an astonishing passion behind every rich note he
sings, and you can feel the sincerity and love flowing freely in his music. This separates him from the rest. Royce's
amazing God given talents can only be described as a true gift from God to the world assigned to destroy every
yoke of the enemy.  
Ya'll don't wanna mess wit us this year!  When You say  
''Who Dat '' ?
We da Band That Can Do dat!
Biography
Mr. Royce Brown
This Guy Sings
Opera