Maxine Brown, born Maxine Ella Brown on August 18, 1939 in Kingstree, South Carolina, is a soul and R&B singer. She began her vocal career as a child, performing with New York City gospel groups the Angelairs and the Royaltones. After signing with the small Nomar label in 1960, she released the self‑written single “All in My Mind”, which climbed to number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 19 on the pop chart, followed by “Funny” which reached number 3 on R&B and number 25 on the Hot 100. Brown moved to ABC‑Paramount in 1962 but left after an unsuccessful year; she joined Wand Records, a Scepter subsidiary, in 1963 and recorded several hits, including “Oh No Not My Baby”, which reached number 24 on the pop charts in 1964, “It’s Gonna Be Alright” that peaked at number 26 on the R&B chart in 1965, and the duet with Chuck Jackson, “Something You Got”, which climbed to number 10 R&B. In 1969, she signed with Commonwealth United, issuing “We’ll Cry Together” that reached number 10 R&B and entered the Hot 100, before a brief stint at Avco Records. Her studio catalogue included albums such as Saying Something (1965), Hold On We’re Coming!! (1966), Out of Sight (1968), We’ll Cry Together (1969), and later compilations like Hits Anthology (2008) and The Very Best of Maxine Brown (2011).
