Gerry Brown


Gerry “The Gov.” Brown is a recording engineer, mixer and music producer based in Los Angeles, best known for his work with artists including Whitney Houston, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, Madonna, Sting, Prince, Phil Collins, Marcus Miller, Wayne Shorter and Victor Wooten. He is credited on multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certified albums.
Brown won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for his work as a producer and engineer on Stanley Clarke's 2010 album The Stanley Clarke Band. He also won a Billboard Award for his work as a producer on the 1993 single “Love Is” by Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight.

Early life and career

Brown's interest in recording technology started at a young age. At age 5, he received a tape recorder as a gift, which he used to record sounds around him. During his teenage years, Brown played the trombone for the Los Angeles High School band. The school band director invited Brown to work at his home studio and continued to mentor him in recording engineering after graduating high school.
Brown obtained a degree at Sound Masters Recording Engineer School. In 1977, he started working at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles, organizing the studio's magnetic tapes. The studio had been previously known by the names Concorde Recording Studios and Scott/Sunstorm. Six months after he started working at Concorde, Brown was promoted to assistant engineer. There, he engineered Debra Law's album "Very Special", produced by Ronnie Laws and Hubert Laws. Brown later became a freelance engineer in 1982.
In 1988, Ed Eckstein, who at the time was president of Wing Records, hired Brown to mix the single "Lay Your Troubles Down" by Angela Winbush and Ronald Isley. The song peaked at Nr. 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 1991, Brown worked on Vanessa William's album "The Comfort Zone" for PolyGram. Brown continued working with Eckstein and moved to New York in 1992 when Eckstein became co-president of PolyGram. While in New York, Brown also worked on singles for Capitol Records. He returned to Los Angeles in 1996.
Brown engineered and mixed tracks on Alicia Keys' 2001 album "Songs in A Minor". Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson was recording at the studio next to Brown. Questlove describes Brown's recording sessions: "Gerry is world famous for his all-year-round Christmas decorations during his sessions".
Brown currently works with engineer Bobby Campbell under the name "Mixed by Humanz". They mixed John Legend's 2020 album "Bigger Love", produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the mobility limitations due to the pandemic, Brown and Campbell mixed the album in their home studios, working remotely.

Selected credits

Albums

YearAlbum/SingleArtistRole
1971SalisburyUriah HeepProducer
1978Here, My DearMarvin GayeProducer, engineer, mixer
1980Don't Look BackNatalie ColeEngineer, remixer
1981Very SpecialDebra LawsEngineer
1987Circumstancial EvidenceShalamarEngineer
1988The Right StuffVanessa WilliamsEnginer, mixer
1988SilhouetteKenny GEngineer
1989Kenny G LiveKenny GEngineer
1990The RevivalTony! Toni! Toné!Engineer, Mixer
1991The Comfort ZoneVanessa WilliamsProducer, vocal arranger, engineer, mixer
1992MastertouchTorsten de WinkelEngineer
1992Brian McKnightBrian McKnightProducer, composer, background vocals, engineer, mixer
1992Beverly Hills, 90210 Original TV Soundtrack-Producer
1993Sons of SoulTony! Toni! Toné!Engineer, mixer
1994StorytellerCrystal WatersEngineer
1994Sweetest DaysVanessa WilliamsProducer, composer, arranger, mixer
1996Star BrightVanessa WilliamsProducer, arranger, engineer
1996House of MusicTony! Toni! Toné!Engineer, mixer
1997Still WatersBee GeesEngineer, mixer
1997Lo Mejor de MíCristian CastroEngineer
1998Never Say NeverBrandyMixer
1999Almost Doesn't CountBrandyMixer
2001Songs in A MinorAlicia KeysEngineer, Mixer
20023DTLCMixer
2003All Hits at the House of BluesRaphael SaadiqEngineer
2004Complex SimplicityTeedra MosesEngineer
2005IlluminationEarth, Wind & FireEngineer
2007The Toys of MenStanley ClarkeEngineer
2008ThunderSMVEngineer, mixer
2008The Way I See ItRaphael SaadiqEngineer
2010The Stanley Clarke BandStanley ClarkeProducer, engineer
2011Stone Rollin'Raphael SaadiqEngineer
2014UpStanley ClarkeEngineer, mixer
2017War & LeisureMiguelMixer
2017Strength of a WomanMary J. BligeEngineer, mixer
2018A Legendary ChristmasJohn LegendMixer
2019Jimmy LeeRaphael SaadiqEngineer
2020Bigger LoveJohn LegendMixer