Junior Brown

Jamieson “Junior” Brown (born June 12, 1952) is an American country guitarist and singer best known for his virtuosic playing and the invention of the “guit-steel,” a unique double-neck instrument combining electric guitar and lap steel. Born in Cottonwood, Arizona, and raised in Indiana, Brown began learning music at a very young age, first on piano and later on guitar. He spent the 1960s and 1970s honing his craft with various country and Western swing bands, developing the technical skill and eclectic style that would later define his solo career. In the mid-1980s, Brown designed the guit-steel to allow him to seamlessly switch between lead guitar and lap-steel playing during live performances. Settling in Austin, Texas, he became a popular fixture at the Continental Club and launched his recording career with 12 Shades of Brown (1990), followed by a series of well-received albums including Guit with It, Semi Crazy, and Long Walk Back. His music blends honky-tonk, Western swing, blues, Tex-Mex, and even surf rock, earning him critical acclaim and two appearances on the Billboard country singles charts. Beyond albums and touring, Brown gained wider recognition through television, film, and collaborations. He appeared in music videos, won the CMA Country Music Video of the Year in 1996, made cameo appearances in shows like The X-Files, and had his music featured in movies and TV series. In later years, he continued recording and performing, releasing albums such as Deep in the Heart of Me (2018) and hosting live online concerts with his wife, Tanya Rae. Junior Brown remains celebrated as a distinctive innovator in country music, admired for both his musicianship and originality.