Teddy Brown Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family
Teddy Brown (1900–1946) was an American entertainer who spent the latter part of his life performing in Britain. He was born Abraham Himmelbrand in 1900, and first played in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, but moved to the field of popular music in the 1920s.He was noted for his rotund appearance, approaching 400 pounds in weight, and was often compared to (or considered the British answer to) another rotund band leader of the same era, Paul Whiteman.Brown played several instruments, the saxophone, the drums, percussion, the xylophone, and he also whistled melodies while he played any of the percussion instruments.He arrived in London in 1926. The next year he formed his own orchestra, playing at the Café de Paris. He went on to play in other nightclubs both in London and Paris including the Kit Kat Club. The custom-made Besson xylophone he played had a six-octave range, two more than the usual xylophone. In 1927, the UK division of Lee de Forest's Phonofilm made a short film of Brown playing the xylophone.As Brown's considerable percussive skills and fame in the UK spread, he appeared in an early sound feature-length movie in 1930, co-directed by a young Alfred Hitchcock, titled Elstree Calling, a musical variety review that answered Paul Whiteman's music review feature film of the same year, King of Jazz, with both films featuring early color sequences. Elstree was the movie and radio studio complex where many famous films and radio shows were produced in the early days of British media entertainment. A variety of impressive older musical and comedic vaudeville acts and new talent were featured each of the two films.Brown's appearances in Elstree Calling won favorable audiences reviews at the time. His third appearance in the film was the most impressive, as he plays the xylophone with amazingly fast precision, using only one hand at a time, and sometimes behind his back.Brown's rapid-fire style was an early influence on percussionist, band-leader Spike Jones, who would launch his own high-energy career a decade later.From 1931 on Brown played on the radio, in films and the variety stage playing the xylophone. His appearance was dapper but quite stout but he was nimble and often danced around the xylophone while playing. He became very popular with audiences and appeared in the Royal Variety Performance in 1931. He was associated with The Crazy Gang, and was often the subject of their jokes. He died in 1946.
Net Worth
$700,000
Date Of Birth
May 25, 1900
Died
1946-01-01
Place Of Birth
New York, New York, USA
Profession
Actor, Music Department, Soundtrack
Nicknames
Teddy Brown, Brown, Teddy
Star Sign
Gemini
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Fact
1
One of his children was named Blossom, after his wife.
2
Had a home in Littlehampton, Sussex, England named Xylophone House.
3
Played a six-octave xylophone, two more than usual.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dreaming
1944
Convict 99
1938
Slim Charlie
Highlights of Variety: The Bell & Howell Music Hall
1938
Short
Variety Parade
1936
København, Kalundborg og - ?
1934
Sig selv
On the Air
1934
Teddy Brown
The Indiscretions of Eve
1932
Barman
Musical Medley
1929
Short
Pot-Pourri
1929
Short
Phototone Reel #1
1928
Short
Phototone Reel #6
1928
Short
The Arcadians
1927
Teddy Brown
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Indiscretions of Eve
1932
musician: xylophone
Elstree Calling
1930
musical director
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Elstree Calling
1930
performer: "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Fairy On The Clock", "Dance of the Raindrops"
$700,000
