{{Short description|American musician (born 1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Chastity Brown | image = Chastity Brown 2013.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|06|01}} | origin = Union City, Tennessee, United States | genre = Americana, blues, folk, jazz, soul, rock | occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician | instrument = Vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, saxophone | current_members = Robert Mulrennan, DeVon Gray, Jef Sundquist, Greg Schutte | label = Red House Records | website = {{URL|chastitybrownmusic.com}} }}

'''Chastity Brown''' (born June 1, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Critics have dubbed her "a banjo-playing soul-singer" and "a rocking, rolling encyclopedia of roots music."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.billingsgazette.com/entertainment/music/off-the-charts-brown-faces-golden-years-with-poignant-new/article_eb5eaaa1-a566-5595-abf8-0e209e272d25.html?mobile_touch=true |title=Off the charts: Brown faces golden years with poignant new tunes : Entertainment |publisher=M.billingsgazette.com |date=January 11, 2013 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>

==Biography and music career== 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Keith |first=Jamie |url=http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/06/05/music-chastity-brown-there-something-only-happens-when-youre-onstage-and-feeling-just |title=News &#124; Twin Cities Daily Planet |publisher=Tcdailyplanet.net |accessdate=October 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20131008133620/http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/06/05/music-chastity-brown-there-something-only-happens-when-youre-onstage-and-feeling-just |archivedate=October 8, 2013 }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/11518006.html |title=Music: Chastity Brown: The Natural |work=Star Tribune |accessdate=October 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012080142/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/11518006.html |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> thumb|left|Chastity Brown in 2008 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=David Campbell, Jon Schober |url=http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2012/03/08/chastitybrown-live |title=Chastity Brown performs in The Current studios &#124; The Current from Minnesota Public Radio |work=The Current |date= n.d.|accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>

In October 2011, Chastity Brown was discovered by Fred Cannon SVP{{Clarify|date=December 2020}} of BMI at the Bitter End. He introduced her to Rose Drake, who signed her to Creative and Dreams Music Network. Cannon brought in Paul Buono to produce with him "a classic record, that will be memorable and will put Chasity Brown on the map." In 2012, she released ''Back-Road Highways'' on Creative and Dreams 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<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypages.com/bestof/2012/award/best-folk-artist-2455277/ |title=Minneapolis Best Folk Artist – Chastity Brown – Best Of Minneapolis |publisher=City Pages |date=April 11, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828034500/http://www.citypages.com/bestof/2012/award/best-folk-artist-2455277/ |archivedate=August 28, 2013 }}</ref> in early 2012 before garnering nods from NPR as a "promising new voice,"<ref>{{cite web|last=Swensson |first=Andrea |url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/156314152/chastity-brown-a-promising-new-voice |title=Chastity Brown: A Promising New Voice |publisher=NPR |date=July 5, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref> and best album nods from 89.3 The Current, Star Tribune, City Pages, and Lavender Magazine.<ref>{{cite web|last=Huyck |first=Ed |url=http://www.lavendermagazine.com/our-scene/music-best-of-2012/ |title=Music: Best of 2012 |work=Lavender Magazine |date=December 13, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref> 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 Michael Kiwanuka, 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2012/12/31/top89-songs |title=The Top 89 Songs of 2012 &#124; The Current from Minnesota Public Radio |work=The Current |date=December 31, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref> and was also featured in the BBC & HBO television movie, ''Mary & Martha,'' starring Hilary Swank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01r1cnt |title=BBC One – Mary and Martha |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=March 1, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2013}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmtedge.com/2012/09/17/10-top-moments-from-americana-music-festival/ |title=10 Top Moments From Americana Music Festival |publisher=cmtedge.com |date=September 17, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/09/americana-fest-2012-something-to-talk-about/ |title=Americana Fest 2012: Something To Talk About |publisher=American Songwriter |date=September 18, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref> thumb|right|Chastity Brown and band in 2014

On July 28, 2016, Chastity signed with Red House Records.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==Non-profit contributions== Brown is involved in a number of nonprofit and charitable events around the Twin Cities. She was a contributing artist to the 2012 album Think Out Loud: Music Serving the Homeless in the Twin Cities,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/thinking-out-loud-music-serving-homeless-review/|title="Think Out Loud: Music Serving the Homeless in the Twin Cities": A good listen, for a good cause|first=Dwight|last=Hobbes|website=Twin Cities Daily Planet}}</ref> and has performed at events for nonprofits promoting youth access to the arts, including Vega Productions, Inc., and Free Arts Minnesota, among others.<ref>{{cite web|last=Swensson |first=Andrea |url=http://blog.thecurrent.org/2012/11/minnesota-beatle-project-vol-4-tracklist-artwork-revealed/ |title=Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 4 tracklist, artwork revealed |publisher=Blog.thecurrent.org |date=November 2, 2012 |accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Do the Best You Can'' (2007) * ''Sankofa'' (2009) * ''High Noon Teeth'' (2010) * ''Back-Road Highways'' (2012) * ''Long Way'' (2014) * ''Silhouette of Sirens'' (2017) * ''Sing to the Walls'' (2022)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.chastitybrownmusic.com/ Chastity Brown’s Official Website] * [http://www.daytrotter.com/#!/concert/chastity-brown/20056449-37383619 Featured] in a Daytrotter Session on April 19, 2013 * [http://www.northshoresessions.com/ Featured in a NorthShore Sessions video] * [http://www.mnoriginal.org/?s=chastity+brown Featured] on the PBS program MN Original from the TPT St. Paul, Minnesota Station

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Chastity}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Minneapolis Category:American pop musicians Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from Minnesota Category:People from Union City, Tennessee Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:Artists from Minnesota Category:21st-century American women