Toni Brown

About

Famous as a founder of the late 1960s and early 1970s rock-jazz-blues-folk fusion band Joy of Cooking, she served as the group's pianist and contributed to the band's 1971 hit single, "Brownsville," as well as to the albums Joy of Cooking (1971), Closer to the Ground (1971), and Castles (1972).

Before Fame

She launched her band, one of the first female-fronted rock groups in history, in 1967.

Trivia

She released two solo albums, Good for You, Too (1973) and Toni Brown (1979). After ending her music career, she received a master's degree in psychology and established a non-profit youth center called Four Winds West.

Family Life

Based in Berkeley, California, her Joy of Cooking band "family" included guitarist Terry Garthwaite, bassist David Garthwaite, percussionist Ron Wilson, and drummer Fritz Kasten.

Associated With

She and Victory Tischler-Blue (of The Runaways) both belonged to popular California-based bands of the 1970s.