Jewel Brown, legendary Houston artist who played jazz with Louis Armstrong in the 1960s, dies at 86

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston jazz legend Jewel Brown died this week at age 86, her publicist confirmed Wednesday.

The Third Ward native spent the ’60s singing with Louis Armstrong’s six-piece band because she felt she would have a bigger opportunity to shine.

However, the Houston Chronicle reports that Brown chose family over fame and eventually returned to her hometown of Houston to care for her parents.

“Baby, I grew up with all that,” she told the Chronicle in 2015. “I did country and western, ballads, swell songs, blues and jazz. They call me a bluesy jazz singer and a jazzy blues singer. Give me a song. If it’s good, I’ll do it.

Brown was reportedly recently treated for colon cancer before her death.