My mission is to shine a light on the world that brightens the human condition: through my compositions on a wide array of subjects I offer insights into our mortal adventures. My songs, poems, and theater pieces are intended to benefit audiences; to entertain and educate = edutainment.
Born with a special gift for composing verse and music, I have appreciated it by creating hundreds of songs. A number have been incorporated in a dozen musical theater pieces. And I have also written papers presenting my personal, political, and philosophical views. Although a good many have been quite well received, most of my works have yet to play publicly.
My problem lies in the candor and artistic quality that have colored my works “controversial.” A generally successful effort has been made to prevent my fulfilling the outstanding promise with which I “burst on the entertainment scene” in 1960. I have proved to be far too politically incorrect for the superstardom initially predicted for me. It was said, therefore, he is ahead of his time, and too good for his own good, as I was commercially barred from the major marketplaces. But I was cool.
And now there is this World Wide Web on which I may connect with audiences long sought. Now an explosion of communications technology has leveled the cultural and political fields on which we play our games. Now some harmonious healing can oppose the severe damage currently being done to the public as a diversion. My works can now be shared and my mission finally accomplished. This is the result hoped for from the postings on this website.
The postings take the form of written text, together with audio and visual presentations developed over the years, and offered here without commercial charge. It is hoped that these presentations will proliferate to popularize my points of view and encourage other gifted individuals to make similar contributions along the “information superhighway.”
To read more work by Oscar Brown Jr., including his memoir of working with the Blackstone Rangers, purchase a copy of CR 62.4/63.1/2.
Oscar Brown Jr., “Forty Acres and a Mule,” from Mr. Oscar Brown Jr. Goes to Washington, Fontana SRF-67540 (1965).
Oscar Brown Jr. interviewed by Bill Boggs.
