Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp, known professionally as Nappy Brown, was an American R&B singer born on October 12, 1929, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raised by his foster parents after his mother's death, Brown began his career singing gospel music before transitioning to R&B. In 1954, he secured a recording contract with Savoy Records, launching his successful music career with early hits like "Don't Be Angry" which went to number 2 and 10 on the R&B charts in 1955, respectively. Brown's distinctive style, marked by wide vibrato and melisma, made him a notable figure in the R&B scene of the 1950s. Brown frequently toured with Alan Freed’s revues, bridging African-American pop music to white audiences. His powerful voice influenced the development of soul music. In the early 1980s, a resurgence of interest in R&B led to the re-release of Brown's early songs on European albums. Encouraged by Bob Margolin, former guitarist for Muddy Waters' band, Brown returned to the music industry with a successful tour of Scandinavia in 1983 and signed with Landslide Records in 1984. His comeback album Tore Up was released that year. Notable later albums include Something Gonna Jump Out the Bushes! (1987), and his final album, Long Time Coming, released on September 25, 2007. Brown passed away on September 20, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on August 24, 2002.
