An Augusta native, Russell Joel Brown returns to us from New York City, where he was a Broadway actor, singer, and dancer for 12 years. He has appeared in such productions as "Smokey Joe's Café", "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "Big River", "Die Fledermaus" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." As a guest soloist at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Mr. Brown has sung for the funerals of such luminaries as Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Thurgood Marshall, and Arthur Ashe.

Since returning to Augusta, Russell Joel Brown has invested his time and talents heavily in the city. Mr. Brown has given unforgettable stage performances in such shows as the Augusta Opera's "Carousel" and "Die Fledermaus," as a soloist with the Augusta Chorale, star of "The Wiz" in the Augusta Players production of the "The Wiz", and his own block-buster productions of "From Mozart to Motown" and "A Mozart to Motown Christmas." Russell Joel Brown's most significant contribution to the Augusta community, however, is not his professional achievements. Rather, it is the passion in which he gives back to the youth of the Augusta community.

After spending over two years doing countless community outreach projects through local organizations, Mr. Brown established his own 501(c)(3) Foundation. The Russell Joel Brown Foundation, established in 2003, supports the on-going community efforts of Russell Joel Brown. The Foundation has a two-tiered approach to improving the quality of life in communities. One facet focuses on children and the arts, providing children with opportunities for exposure, training, and performance in the arts. The other facet focuses on breaking down the, often arbitrary, barriers to cooperation between citizens, fostering relationships and partnerships to unify the community. Mr. Brown's community service projects include "The Boo Bash", the Henrietta Marie project, and Grandma Zebra's Wisdom.

Among the many accolades he has received are two notable awards. The "Stevie" award for Best Performance of the Year, two years running, given by the Augusta Chronicle's Arts and Entertainment Editor Steven Uhles, was awarded to Mr. Brown for "From Mozart to Motown." The Individual Artist of the Year, given by the Greater Augusta Arts Council, was awarded to Mr. Brown for his overall efforts in the arts community.