Artist description Mareen Brown has two bands. One is the Maureen Brown Trio, and the other is a 7 piece New Orleans style band, called Big Hand.

Music Style Blues/newOrleans,Jazz, R&B

Artist History The un-beat-able Maureen Brown. Three time winner of the MapleBlues Drummer of the Year award (1997, 1998 & 1999), she is still reigning as Canada’s Best Blues drummer. Also winner of the Real Blues Best Canadian Blues Drummer (1997) and nominated twice for MapleBlues Female Vocalist of the Year (1997 & 1999), Maureen’s nine-piece New Orleans party band, Maureen Brown & Big Hand were Southern Comfort’s New Blues Talent Search Winners (1994). The band represented Canada at the W.C. Handy New Blues Talent Search, in Memphis, TN. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Maureen started drumming at the age of 10 years old. A classically trained percussionist, she has performed with the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra, but began her blues career, in Toronto. One of Maureens’ most memorable performances, was her first headliner blues performance with John Hammond, at The Horseshoe Tavern, and having Dan Aykroyd in attendance. Since then she has performed with such great blues giants as Lowell Fulson, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, “Bones” Malone, Otis Rush, Margie Evans, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Michael Coleman, Tinsley Ellis, Jeff Healy, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Big Time Sarah and A.C. Reed. Maureen’s main influences these days is her husband, Rick Gratton, who is a world-reknown drum guru, who’s teaching creditials include Anton Fig (David Letterman Show) and Kenny Aronoff (John Cougar-Mellencamp, John Fogerty). Rick is currently drumming for Canadian music legend Ian Thomas, who also produced and played on Maureen’s debut CD “BE CLOSE”. Ian also co-wrote four songs on the CD, which features special guests Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) and Richie Hayward, one of the founding members of Maureen’s all-time favourite band, Little Feat. She writes two regular drum columns in Canada’s Drums Etc. Magazine, as well as writing the Canadian Drum scene in the column - Single Strokes , for the international drum magazine, DRUM!,out of California. She is also an actress, songwriter and bandleader of two bands. Maureen Brown & Big Hand finds Maureen fronting the band, playing assorted percussion, including bongo’s, shakers and a “female” wash-board, while in The Maureen Brown Band, she fronts the band from the drumset and brings the band size down to a more intimate level, usually being anywhere from three to six pieces. For more information check out her website at www.interlog.com/~puddin or to book any of the bands, please :

Group Members Mareen Brown, Drums and vocals. Rodney St. Amand, Bass and vocals, and Mitch Lewis on guitar and vocals

Instruments Drums, guitar and bass

Albums Be Close"

Location Mississauga, Ontario - Canada

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