Biography

Georgia Brown

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She was was born in London's East End, the daughter of a Russian immigrant family who settled in Britain at the turn of the century. During WWII, she was evacuated to South Wales. Welsh choirs fascinated her and she remembered the miners harmonising, which made her want to sing professionally. Her first engagement at seventeen was at London's Stork Club, where she sang Blues numbers. She got steady work in cabaret and on the variety circuit. Tiring of all the touring in 1956, she auditioned for and got a part in the production of 'The Threepenny Opera at the Royal Court, which transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in the West End and then to New York. When that closed, she got the offer of singing in a Hollywood night club, but that was a disaster. She returned to New York broke and destitute, then she got a message that London Television wanted to do a program about her.She was asked to record some songs for a new show called 'The Lily White Boys', in which she stared with Albert Finney at the Royal Court. After that, she was cast as Nancy in 'Oliver', which she played in London and New York for four years, earning the London Critics Award and a New York Tony Award nomination. She was, needless to say, disappointed at not getting the role in the film version. She returned to London for Lionel Bart's 'Maggie May', then made her film debut in 'The Fixer'.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tonyman 5

A permanent resident of the US, she died at age 58 during a visit to London, due to complications during emergency surgery to remove an intestinal obstruction.
A lover of jazz, she selected her professional name from the 1925 tune "Sweet Georgia Brown".
One of her neighbors, and frequent dance partner, was the famous hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. When he opened his first salon in 1954, she was his first customer.
The role of "Nancy" in "Oliver!" was originally written with author Lionel Bart's friend Alma Cogan in mind, but Alma was unable to commit to the role, although she did record a soundtrack recording of "Oliver!" Georgia later replaced Rachel Roberts in the title role of Bart's musical "Maggie May" in 1965.
As a child she was sent to Wales with other youngsters to escape the German bombing of London known as The Blitz.

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