Houston Jazz. Blues singer Jewel Brown dies at 86

HOUSTON — Fans are mourning the sudden death of legendary Houston jazz and blues singer Jewel Brown.

It was known as the “Gem of the Third Ward.”

The cause of his death is unknown. Brown was 86 years old.

KHOU 11 News has interviewed Brown in the past. She explained how her career began at the historic Eldorado Ballroom where she performed with the King of Jazz, Louis Armstrong.

It wasn’t easy being a black woman in the industry back then.

“I didn’t have a day off for a year and a half. The gentleman who wanted to give me $100 to sing ‘Stormy Weather’ didn’t want to come because he wasn’t where he was supposed to be and The young lady he was with didn’t want to bring it to me, so they called Mr. Ruby to bring me the $100 and he said, “Okay, where’s my other half?” “Half of what?…Mr. Ruby, if you can’t respect me as a black woman, you could at least respect me as the host who kept your seat full every night. I’m proud of myself because. I was already told about the pitfalls, with his help I avoided them and that made my mother and father, before they left here, proud of me,” Brown said.