MUSIC

Country Music Hall of Famer Maxine Brown Russell of The Browns dead at 87

Cindy Watts
The Tennessean

Maxine Brown Russell, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 as part of sibling trio The Browns, died in Little Rock, Arkansas, Monday from complications of heart and kidney disease. Russell was 87 years old. She was in hospice care surrounded by family when she passed away.

Russell was born into her musical family on April 27, 1931, in Campti, Louisiana. She performed with siblings Jim Ed and Bonnie Brown as The Browns. The siblings' first chart single "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow" peaked at No. 7 in 1955, and in 1956, their recording of "I Take the Chance" hit No. 2 on the country charts. However, The Browns were most known for their sweet harmonies on “The Three Bells,” which was released in 1959.

Maxine Brown

Produced by Chet Atkins, "The Three Bells" spent 10 weeks atop the country chart, four weeks on the pop charts, and even crossed over to the Hot R&B Sides chart, peaking at No. 10. Five decades after its release, “The Three Bells” experienced a minor resurgence when it was featured in two episodes of the final season of the HBO drama “The Sopranos.”

From left, Jody Williams, Maxine Brown, Becky Brown, Bonnie Brown, and Bobby Bare with the plaque honoring Jim Ed Brown and The Browns during The Country Music Hall of Fame 2015 Medallion Ceremony.

The Browns continued to find crossover success with songs including “The Old Lamplighter" and “Scarlet Ribbons.” Russell's first success as a songwriter came with The Browns' release of "Looking Back To See." In 1963, The Browns were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.

After more than a decade as a trio, the Browns stopped recording together in 1967, but her artistic endeavors didn't end. In 2012, Russell was awarded the Ella Dicky Literary Award for her 2005 autobiography "Looking Back To See." The Browns were inducted into The Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, The Arkansas Walkway of Stars, The Missouri Walkway of Stars and are a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Arkansas Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Russell was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Birdie Brown, sisters Bonnie Ring and Norma Sullivan, brothers Jim Ed Brown and Raymond Brown, and her son Tommy H. Russell, Jr.  She is survived by two children, Jimmy Russell (Mary) and Alicia Short (Curtis), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Russell will be held 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street in North Little Rock, Ark. Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Monday at First Assembly of God, 4501 Burrow Drive in North Little Rock, Ark.  Burial will follow 2:30 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park in Pine Bluff, Ark.