Warren L. Brown
Warren Brown Obituary
Warren Brown was a most uniquely talented person who deserves a special obituary. He shed his earthly existence on the 28th of July 2022. Born on the 25th of June 1946 in Louisville, KY.
In many ways Warren could have been thought of as a Hollywood quality storyteller, except his were his own life experiences. What a life he lived…read on to find out!
Warren was born into a family of meager means. This was the impetus to become very self-sufficient at a young age. There was nothing Warren would desire that he didn’t achieve. With no formal training Warren was able to become a very sought after professional pianist. Entertaining would become a passion in life he would continue to build on until he achieved his biggest dream, a versatile and highly popular cabaret bar.
Along the way he would perform in lounges, as a musician for theatre, work in one of the largest music shops of the era (Shackelton’s, where he would meet many popular national musicians purchasing their instruments and music from him), and even as a Travel Agent. This versatility in career gave Warren the ability to travel extensively and even cruise the seas.
He would live in Florida in the early 1980s, working at Venice Little Theatre as Sound Director, which led to him purchasing the Holiday Dinner Theatre in Osprey, FL. Here he would hone and develop his razor-sharp timing as a riveting and stage-commanding showman (Take that comment as it was intended, as Warren might say!).
When he returned to the local area he realized the developing computer era was upon us. He began extensive research of this popular new business tool and became a very popular developer in the computer world, leading him to many companies who actively courted his talents.
Never one to sit still, he would take on an evening career playing piano in local lounges. Warren became incredibly popular with local theatre professionals who followed him using his talents to compliment and develop their own. By the early 2000s Warren was hosting traveling Broadway show casts in his piano bar. He even used his computer abilities to create electronic music!
While maintaining a “day job” he hatched the plan to eventually own his own place. He achieved his dream with Pride Bar in New Albany, IN. His personality, inability to meet a stranger, and refusal to accept defeat had lead him through the perfect storm. After a couple of years of struggle, he decided to take control and as he said “Make things right”. He built the business into a thriving entity in a most unlikely place…something Warren was expert at doing!
Warren lived in an era where discrimination was a constant. His ability to see beyond labels and insistence we all have the same rights brought him from hiding himself to having the word “pride” in the name of his cabaret lounge. Many younger folks owe the acceptance they enjoy today to pioneering people like Warren Brown.
Don’t think of him as being gone, his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. For in his life Warren created a better place for all to live in.
Left to cherish his memory is his sister, Judy; adoptive son, Levon; his Pride Bar family; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, August 6 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm at Scott Funeral Home, 2515 Veterans Parkway, with a remembrance service at 3:00 in the chapel of the funeral home. Please click here to view the funeral service. A celebration event for those over 21 will be held at Pride Bar, 504 State Street, New Albany starting at 9:00 pm.
Memories of Warren and messages of support for the family can be shared at www.ScottFuneralHome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Warren L. Brown, please visit our floral store.
