Chastity Brown (born June 1, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Critics have dubbed her a "a banjo-playing soul-singer" and "a rocking, rolling encyclopedia of roots music."
Biography and music career edit:
Raised in Union City, Tennessee, Chastity grew up playing the saxophone and drums in church before she started to write and sing her own songs. She performed her first show in Knoxville, Tennessee before moving to Minneapolis in 2006. Brown self-released her debut album Do the Best You Can in 2007 and follow-up, Sankofa in 2009. Both were met with critical acclaim. Music critic Jim Walsh of the Star Tribune commented, "...for those who appreciate songwriter-fueled jazz and a sense of organic greatness in the making, she is nothing short of a massage therapist for the ears and soul."
She released her 2010 album High Noon Teeth with bandmates, Michael X. (percussion), Adam Wozniak (of Dark Dark Dark, upright bass) and Nikki Schultz (backing vocals). Brown's song "By the Train Tracks" was 89.3 The Current's "Song of the Day" on June 6, 2010.
In 2012, she released Back-Road Highways on C & D Music Network, based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Musicians include Chastity's long-time guitar player, Robert Mulrennan, along with Blair Masters on B-3 organ, Anton Nesbitt on bass, and Bernard Bell on drums. She was chosen as Minneapolis' Best Folk Artist in early 2012 before garnering nods from NPR as a "promising new voice," and best album nods from 89.3 The Current, Star Tribune, City Pages, and Lavender Magazine. She toured Europe for the first time that same year and sold out her first two shows in Kiel, Germany. While touring with Back-Road Highways, she supported Dar Williams, Raul Midon, and Leon Russell.
Chastity's hit single, "After You" landed on 89.3 The Current's Top 89 Songs of 2012, and was also featured in the BBC & HBO television movie, Mary & Martha, starring Hilary Swank. After seeing Chastity's performance of "After You" at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, CMT highlighted it as a Top Ten Moment of the 2012 festival, stating "she's definitely a songwriter and performer to watch."
Nonprofit contributions edit:
Brown is involved in a number of nonprofit and charitable events around the Twin Cities. She is a contributing artist to Think Out Loud, a Twin Cities effort to end homelessness through music, and has performed at events for nonprofits promoting youth access to the arts, including Vega Productions, Inc., and Free Arts Minnesota, among others.
