Mel Brown Legacy Project – Bronze Memorial Statue
Created in 2023, by Abiola Idowu The Mel Brown Legacy Project is a tribute to the legendary blues guitarist, Mel Brown. Born in Jackson Mississippi in 1939, Mel Brown played with many famous musicians and bands. Best known for his decade-plus stint in support of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Mel channeled elements of soul, funk, and jazz to create one of the most distinctive guitar styles in contemporary blues. Glenn Smith, owner of Pop the Gator Blues Nightclub, which was located on the second floor of the adjacent building (44 Queen St. S), invited Mel to anchor the house band. Mel, followed by his wife, Miss Angel, moved to Kitchener in 1989. Mel transformed the music scene and inspired the Kitchener Blues Festival. Mel remained in Kitchener until his untimely death in 2009. For more than twenty years, he played a vital role in Kitchener’s live music scene. This project commemorates Mel and his lasting legacy in his adopted community of Kitchener. Commissioned by THEMUSEUM, downtown Kitchener, to celebrate Black heritage, and to honour Mel Brown’s memory and the influence of Black musicians in connection to The Rolling Stones | UNZIPPED exhibition hosted by THEMUSEUM from November 2021 – April 2022. Abiola Idowu is a multidisciplinary artist. He came to Canada from Nigeria (via Ohio) in 2018. Prior to coming to Canada, Abiola worked briefly with a sculptor in Zanesville, Ohio and continued his own practice. He has been in North America for eight years, and in this time, his work has been featured in thirteen exhibitions, including eight solo exhibitions. He now calls Brampton his home, and he is proud that it embraces him as an artistic icon. He received the 2021 Art Acclaim Award celebrating artists who have achieved national and international recognition. In Canada, he has created several public art installations. "Just scanning the themes here, I think you and the programming team should be very proud of the relevance of your institution to so many of the important conversations of our time. Please keep doing what you’re doing!" - Glen Drummond, Chief Innovation Officer, Quarry.comWhy open THEMUSEUM newsletters?
