Wally Brown, pianist/organist extraordinaire, 90, died on March 8, 2022. He was born on July 31, 1931, in Duncan, Oklahoma to Buster and Vinita Hood Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Joe Brown. He is survived by his sons, Rodne of NYC, NY, Mark (Jeannie) of Mustang, OK, and Byron (Dana) of Huntsville, AL. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, and two sisters Neta Garza-Ortiz, of Tulsa and Sue Rigsby of Oklahoma City, OK, and sister-in-law Marlene Brown of Coppell, TX.
He began playing the piano by ear at the age of five after his aunt taught him five variations of a beginner’s duet. His first public performance was at age ten with an appearance at his grade school PTA program. At twelve he got the opportunity to experiment with a pipe organ at a local church. At sixteen, he started a weekly thirty-minute radio program in Oklahoma City. This gave him the opportunity to have an organ to practice on. He participated in band/choir and graduated from Midwest City High School in 1949. After two years at OU, he joined the U.S. Navy. His Navy career was in San Diego, CA where he got his first professional experience playing the organ at the Admiral Kidd officers club. He also served as a Corpsman in the Naval Hospital. While in the Navy, he developed a lifelong interest as a HAM Radio Operator. He relocated to Oklahoma City and played the organ/piano at Glen’s Hik’Ry Inn Steak House sixteen years, including a six-month job as the organist for Oral Roberts Crusades. During these years he also was organist on the Gaylon Stacy Show on Channel 9. In 1972, he began to free-lance concerts in the U.S. and Canada. In 1977, he moved to Los Angeles for studio work and played with his trio at the Sur la Mer cabaret in Marina del Rey. In 1979, he became the pianist for the Anaqua dining room at the Four Seasons Plaza Nacional Hotel in San Antonio, TX.
In 1981, he played at the OKC Skirvin Hotel and in 1982 he became Artist in Residence at Oral Roberts University and for the " Richard Roberts television show." He expanded his musical endeavors in 1987 to include country clubs, multiple recordings, and music scores for three major motion pictures, " The Program", " Out of Darkness", and "Dead Presidents." He collaborated with many singers including Mahalia Jackson, Leona Mitchell, Robert Hale, Andre Crouch, and recorded over twenty CD”s of his music. His professional memberships included ASCAP, NARAS, and AF of M, Tulsa ATOS, the OKC American Guild of Organists, and the LMC Pianists Division.
Indeed, Wally was certainly one of the greatest musical phenomenon’s Oklahoma ever produced with his unique style of improvisation. He never had a music lesson, just a very special gift from God. In later years he enjoyed associations with Southern Nazarene University Music Department and the Oklahoma City Ladies Music Club. Memorial contributions may be made to those organizations.
As his final wish, Wally willed his body to the OU Medical Education Willed Body Program. No further services will be held.
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