Biograph




Grey  Reverend  is  the solo  project of songwriter  L.D.  Brown.  He  began the project  in  2005 while living in Philadelphia P.A,  focusing  on  guitar  and  voice as a primary means of expression.  Raised  on  a variety of musical genres,  L.D. began playing the saxophone at age 9, but didn't discover the guitar until the age of 22 ,when he moved into an  apartment where someone had serendipitously left one behind.  While living in Philadelphia, Brown was also fortunate enough to meet and  study music under the instruction and guidance of his mentor and  jazz guitar legend, Pat Martino. Soon  enough,  he  was  performing  in  various  jazz,  rock,  and  blues  outfits  throughout  the City of Brotherly Love. He immersed himself in  the  complex  language  of  music  theory  and  jazz  improvisation, though a few years into his burgeoning career,  he mysteriously began  experiencing  problems  with  his  hands while performing and practicing.  This setback obscured his aspirations of becoming a Jazz guitar soloist, in the realm of such legends as Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. Alas, he vowed not to give up the instrument that he had grown to love so dearly.

Diagnosed  with  focal  dystonia, a neurological disorder that effects fine motor skills,  L.D.  was forced to cope  with  the  loss  of  dexterity  in  his  hands  and slowly found himself  drawn  towards more subtle and simplistic  folk  and  blues  compositions of songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, John Fahey, Terry Calier and Mississippi John Hurt.  The  desire  to  write and sing his  own  material combined  with  the  knowledge  of  musicology  prompted  L.D.  to  begin crafting  subversive  and  unique  chord structures  for  his deeply visceral compositions.  Using  a  stream-­of-­consciousness  style  of writing,  L.D.   also found  inspiration  in  creating  sincere, yet accessible  lyrics about life, love,and loss.

In  2006,  Brown  left  Philadelphia  for  New  York  City.  Shortly  after  settling  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  currently resides,  he  began  to  meet  and  collaborate  with  different  artists  and  songwriters  in  his neighborhood. This  manifested  into  a  friendship  with  Jason  Swinscoe,  the  founding  member  and leader  of  The  Cinematic  Orchestra.  Swinscoe  incorporated  L.D.  into  his  musical  outfit, after he was commissioned to cover the now classic TCO song "To Build a Home".  He has  toured  with  TCO  in  support  of  the  group's  2006  studio  album  Ma  Fleur,  and  has  been  a contributing  member of the group for  nearly  6  years.  Also while in New York L.D.  began  busking  in  the subways,  helping  him  to  develop  his  voice  and  performance skills  and inevitably catching  the  eye  of  many  record  labels  and  producers.

In  2011  Grey  Reverend was signed to Ninja Tune/Motion  Audio  Records and released  it's  first  international  LP  titled  "Of  The  Days".  L.D  has  toured  the  U.K  and  Europe  in  support  of  this  album,  and has  been a  featured artist  on  NPR's  All  Things  Considered,  in  the  U.S.  Grey Reverend's music has also been showcased on MTV, ABC ,NBC, HBO ,BBC and other networks worldwide, since the aforementioned release.

Currently L.D  is in preparation to release a follow up to the critically acclaimed Of The Days LP, scheduled for Summer 2013. Besides working with The Cinematic Orchestra, he has been collaborating with a wide range of artist around the world. He has worked with Bonobo, Fink, Lou Rhodes of Lamb, members of Wilco, Lizz Wright, Tortoise and many others along his journeys, and claims music to be his means of connecting  with the rest of the  world.

David Garland of WNYC radio in New York put it eloquently when he said  "As Grey Reverend, LD Brown makes compelling songs with reverence for the grey, undefined areas of style, and without concern for standard musical, or social expectations."