David Brown

May 8, 1952 - November 12, 2022

David Warren Brown (Hawk on Head) of Lodi, CA, passed away on November 12, 2022 at age 70. He was born in Oklahoma City, OK to Jacob Milton Brown (Oglala Lakota) and Alma Bruce Martin Brown (Muscogee) on May 8, 1952. Services will be at 11AM on Thursday, December 8 at Lakepointe Church, Rockwall, TX.

David grew up in Oak Cliff, Texas, and attending Sunset High School. He married Paula Duke (Kilgore) in 1974 and started a family right away, identical twins Jessica and Jennifer, and son Jacob. He held several basic jobs such as Jack Duke’s Ye Ole Butcher Shop and Barry Rhodes Surveying. But his main focus was to pursue his dreams as a musician.

While at Sunset, he was a member of the Musicians’ Guild founded by Robert Ware. Throughout high school and afterwards, David played in several bands, including a band call Meat with his old friend, Stevie Ray Vaughan to play in the Battle of the Bands. In 1973, Barry Rhodes (from Sounds INC, a 60’s Rock Band) asked David and Joe Morale (well-known guitarist of East Tx) to join a new band called Texas Rock. They opened for national acts and played big clubs in Texas and Oklahome. He also played at two Oak Cliff Reunion Concerts organized by Christian Brooks, the last one featured his old friend Stevie Ray Vaughn. After 13 years with Texas Rock, David pursued a solo career playing the Blues.

He creatively integrated his Native heritage in his creative pursuits with a mindful respect of tradition. In the mid-1980’s, the Brown family danced at the American Indian Days at the Texas State Fair while David performed the Blues. He debuted his Brownhawk Band in 1990. Later, he was a guitar instructor to aspiring students.

David and his beloved Pamela Reneau moved to Lodi, CA in 2002 where he made new friends in the music scene and jammed with No Border Blues, Double D and other local groups.

He was a performer and soulful musician with a magnetic personality, positive spirit and unforgettable stage presence. His relentless optimism and talented gifts made a dramatic impression on everyone he met.

Quoting his dear friend Chuck Flores, “may your thoughts of David bring not tears, but smiles and laughter.” He will be missed.

Survivors include his dearly beloved, Pam Reneau, her son Jeremy, and family dog Haley; daughters Jennifer Brown Hebert and husband Brian, and Jessica Brown McKinney and her husband Chris; sister Anita Brown Rodriguez and husband Dave (DR), sister Alice Brown; sister-in-laws Kathy Brown and Roseanne Brown; brother-in-law Ike Harden. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Sylvia Rodriguez, Daphne Feyrer and husband Zack, Jason Brown, Kimberly Rodriguez, Robert Brown, Ashlea Taber and husband Jon, Diana Cournoyer and husband Gerald Cournoyer, Brian Rhodes and wife Jennifer Rhodes, Carity Wesson, Brandon Harden, James Harden, Tara Brown; great nieces and nephews: Yuma Morris, Lauren Barriner, Holly Brummet, Rachel Cady, Erica Cady, Nicole Cournoyer, Kyle Harden, Nora Harden, James Harden, Alex Taber, Chance Taber, Vince Taber, Mikayla Rhodes, Christopher Rhodes, Jace Rhodes, Autumn Watson, Phillip Brown, William Brown, Liam Rhodes.

David is preceded in death by his son, Jacob Matthew Brown; father Jacob Milton Brown and mother Alma Bruce Martin Brown; siblings Fred Brown, Beth Harden, Bruce Brown, Kenny Brown; nephew Steve Brown and niece Jayne Brown.

Please consider a donation to help David’s beloved Pamela Reneau through this overwhelming time of loss. https://www.gofundme.com/passing-of-david-brown-widow-in-need

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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Brown family.

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