In 1969, Beatrice Brown co-founded the University of Louisville Black Diamond Choir with Joetta Perkins (see p. XYZ). In 1971, while still a college student, she organized the Beatrice Brown Singers, who recorded a 45 with Joe Thomas at Sensational Sounds. Brown recruited tenth grader Donna McElroy to sing the lead on the recording of “You Are Special.” Around the same time, Donna won the Crusade for Children singing contest with a rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and won the gospel singing competition at the Louisville Defender Home Show with a performance of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. McElroy went to college at Fisk University, where she majored in voice. During her time in Nashville she began working as a background singer on numerous country and white gospel recordings and toured with the likes of Crystal Gayle and Amy Grant. She later taught voice at Berklee College of Music in Boston for twenty-six years. Dr. Brown had a career as an educator, mental health director, musician, music director, evangelist, ordained minister, author, and missionary.
