Jewel Brown, Houston-native legendary performer who played jazz with Louis Armstrong in the ’60s, dies at 86

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston jazz legend Jewel Brown has died this week at 86, her publicist confirmed Wednesday.

However, the Houston Chronicle reports Brown chose family over fame and eventually returned to her native Houston to care for her parents.

“Baby, I grew up on it all,” she told the Chronicle in 2015. “I’ve done country and western, ballads, torch songs, blues and jazz. They call me a bluesy jazz singer and a jazzy blues singer. Give a song to me. If it’s good, I’ll do it.”

Brown’s family sent ABC13 the following statement after her passing:

Brown had reportedly been recently treated for colon cancer before her death.