Milton Brown
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Milton Brown (1903 - 1936) born in Stephenville, TX was a band leader and vocalist who was one of the founders of Western swing. He joined Bob Wills and Herman Arnspiger in forming the Light Crust Doughboys in 1931. In 1932 he organized Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies in Fort Worth, Texas. From 1934 to 1936, this band produced more than 100 recordings for Victor and Decca, maintained a very busy live appearance schedule throughout the North Texas region and broadcast a weekly radio show.
Brown and his musicians were responsible for numerous innovations, notably the introduction of the electrified steel guitar into Country and Western music.
In April of 1936, Brown had a major car accident. Although he wasn't killed on impact, he died from pneumonia five days after the crash at the height of his popularity. Following Milton's death, his brother guitarist Durwood Brown kept the Musical Brownies together for two years, recording a dozen sides for Decca in 1937.
External Links:
Milton Brown bio at TSHA (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/MM/xgm1.html)