CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Well-known sports radio announcer and cultural icon Irvin “Brownie” Brown died early Friday morning. He was 83.
Word of the passing of musician, radio celebrity and Carnival fixture Brown began circulating via social media about 1 p.m. on Friday.
The news rippled through the 32nd Legislature, where senators observed a moment of silence. They had voted to name a street in St. Thomas after Brown in September.
“I pause today to reflect on the life and legacy of our son of the soil, Irvin “Brownie” Brown, Sr. as he departed this life earlier today,” Senator Novelle Francis Jr. of St. Croix said on Facebook yesterday. “I joined with my colleagues this past summer in paying tribute to him in recognition of his more than 50 years of service to our community through radio broadcasting. Brownie was truly the man and the voice of the people.
Gov. Kenneth Mapp and the Bryan-Roach transition team both issued statements Friday evening.
““Brownie” worked as a radio host on 1340 AM WSTA for many decades with the likes of veteran announcers Addie Ottley and Lee Carle,” Mapp said. “Every day his fans enjoyed hearing his refrain ‘Good Ting’ as he shared stories, spinned the latest tunes and informed the public about community events.”
Brown was primarily known for his radio calls of the horse races at the Clinton Phipps Racetrack on St. Thomas.
His also known for being the father of popular reggae singer Pressure Busspipe, who sings a song tourism uses to promote the territory.
