About Nona Brown
Hailing from the vibrant and diverse San Francisco Bay Area, Nona Brown is a musical force whose smooth and unconventional sound has been praised by her fans as “a breath of fresh air”. Her velvety voice, piano skills, songwriting, and producing leave an indelible mark on all who listen.
Nona’s deep roots in gospel music are exemplified by her time as a group member with the four-time GRAMMY® Award Winner and gospel music legend Edwin Hawkins and the New Edwin Hawkins Singers. She recorded her debut CD, “I’ll Sing My Song,” in 1997, but it was her 2019 sophomore release, “Songs from my Journal Volume 1”, that truly made waves, reaching #14 and #21 on the Billboard Gospel chart in its first two weeks.
Throughout her career as a singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger, Nona has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Van Morrison, Lenny Williams, and The Fray. She has performed at renowned festivals and events such as the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Boston Pops, and Oprah Winfrey’s esteemed Legend’s Ball and Gospel Brunch. Among her achievements are a Telly Award for the “Nona Brown and Tony Saunders Black Lives Matter” music video and recognition as Arranger and Background Vocalist on the GRAMMY® Award-winning Best Children’s Album, “A Colorful World” by Falu, in 2022. In 2023, Nona ventured into filmmaking with her inaugural documentary, “It Takes a Miracle (Sound of Survivors)”, highlighting the inspiring stories of four women in music who found strength and courage in the face of breast cancer through music.
Nona is an active and dedicated member of the music community. She joined the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy in 2008, serving in various roles since 2014, including Chapter Board Governor, Vice President, GRAMMY U mentor, and Black Music Collective (BMC) Ambassador. In 2022, Nona became the first black woman elected President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy, serving a two-year term. In 2023, her leadership gained national recognition when she was appointed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees, to serve as Co-Chairs of the President’s Council alongside Taylor Hanson, Texas Chapter President. “Service to our music community is my passion and pleasure”, says Nona.
Nona Brown is not just a name to remember; she is a life to be inspired by. Her music, resilience, and dedication to uplifting others through her art make her an enduring presence in the world of music and a beacon of hope for all who experience her.