Junior Brown: I signed to a major record label in 1992. I did several albums and videos and received industry recognition from those.

Q: What is your musical background?

Junior Brown: I began playing the piano before I could talk and later took piano lessons, but guitar was always my instrument of choice. Later I acquired an electric guitar which had always fascinated me. (and still does) Having also been fascinated with the steel guitar, I later purchased one at the ripe old age of 21. I built my musical style around my interest in these two instruments and my ability to sing and write songs. I basically stuck with this formula all through the years gradually refining, editing and thus improving over the years. I spent many years, first at "sit-down" jobs with "house" bands, then traveling with road bands getting my chops together. I started my own band somewhat late in life, but by that time I'd gotten so much experience I knew what my style was. It is that style that I consider to be for better or for worse quite unique, and it has taken me to where I am today at age 51.

Q: How long have you been playing the Guit-steel?

Junior Brown: I invented the guit-steel in 1980 and it took until 1985 to see the first one built. I now have three of them and have been playing them ever since. My favorite is one I call "Big Red", (named for it's bright
paint job).

Q: How do you write your songs? Where do you get your inspiration?

Junior Brown: My inspiration for song writing usually comes from a beginning idea which is usually a "hook line". This hook line is usually the title of the song, but not always. After this initial idea comes to me, I sit down and begin writing lines which become verses and choruses. A strange synthesis of lyric and melody begin to take shape
simultaneously. It is this part of the process that is so hard to describe. There are certain rules to be followed and one must constantly on the look out for words that may not roll off the tongue in a graceful way. Every word must be natural and the perfect choice to express the meaning of the line. In turn, every line must support the
title and theme of the song, never veering away from it.

Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?

Junior Brown: My biggest influences have always been those that induce a feeling which is contagious and irresistible. My curiosity is sparked and my hunger is satiated when I feel the thrill that these people have caused me to feel, and interestingly once I have given over my heart to these kinds of music, its a marriage for life; in other words, I am just as excited to hear the same record today as I was when I heard it forty years ago. The list of artists who I hold in such esteem is too long and varied to name.

Q: You have a wide range of musical styles. What is your favorite kind of music to play?

Junior Brown: Music which is now known as traditional country.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

Junior Brown: Most everything from all musical styles up until around 1975. Since that time there are some things of interest, but not near as many.

Q: You've done some acting as well. Have you ever thought about being the voice of an animated character?

Junior Brown: Yes. I like to think of myself as being well rounded and personally adaptable enough to take on different characters, both audio and video.

Q: You have references to fish in a few of your songs. Why?

Junior Brown: I hadn't noticed that. Sounds fishy to me!

Q: When is your next album coming out?

Junior Brown: I am preparing the ground work for my next album and it should be out within a few months.