‘Force of nature’ Richard Brown remembered

By Prasi Desai     3/25/25 9:51pm

Richard Brown, a founding faculty member of the Shepherd School’s percussion department, passed away March 14. Outside of being an educator, Brown was a Rice professor for over 40 years as well as a professional musician and entrepreneur. 

After beginning his music career at 18 in Philadelphia, Brown was a part of the United States Army Band and the Houston Symphony before briefly serving as a freelance percussionist on Broadway. 

After being appointed as a professor at Rice in 1985, Brown continued playing with the Houston Symphony and served as principal percussionist and personnel manager of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra for over 25 years. 

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He also led the Richard Brown Orchestra, which was one of Houston’s most popular dance bands and played at numerous local events.

David Murray ’91, who studied under Brown for five years, said his first contact with Brown was before he enrolled as a student in 1986. When Murray first applied to the program as a senior in high school, Brown called him a day later and convinced him to attend an audition in Houston. 

According to Murray, Brown was a great teacher and mentor who cared deeply about his students and their success.

“[Brown] treated his students like they were his own children,” Murray said.

Tom Jaber, director of choral activities and professor of vocal coaching, said he first met Brown when he started working at Rice in 1988. Describing Brown as a “force of nature,” Jaber said “everything [Brown] did contributed to developing [Shepherd’s] national and international prominence.”

According to Murray, Brown was instrumental in shaping his career, helping him to win auditions and consider a career in military bands. Murray credits Brown’s real-world experience as a percussionist, which translated to his teaching, as a major reason for his students’ success.

“He found excellence in me that I didn’t know was there,” Murray said. “He was good at being a teacher and mentor, but he was also good at helping people get their foot in the door for jobs.”

Jaber and Brown remained friends for over 30 years until Brown’s passing. For Jaber’s 25th anniversary at the Shepherd School, Jaber and Brown played together in the celebratory concert—an experience Jaber remembers fondly.

“I found that side of him to be very encouraging as a friend and colleague,” Jaber said.

According to Jaber, Brown was notorious for always being on his cell phone, frequently putting in 18-to-20 hour days with his responsibilities as a professor and other commitments. However, Jaber said Brown’s busy schedule did not prevent him from having a “fantastic sense of humor” and treating others with kindness and compassion. 

“A substantial faculty appointment can be a pretty lonely job,” Jaber said. “Richard always seemed to care about how I was.”

Brown was the founder of Richard Brown Music, which hired musicians for Houston freelance concerts and churches. A social media statement by the HGO Orchestra described Brown as “the heart and foundation of the Houston freelance community,” offering over 2000 employment opportunities to Houston musicians.

Jaber said Brown was still involved with the music community, even after retirement.

“He loved what he did,” Jaber said. “This community will have trouble recovering from his loss.”

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