Grayson Warren Brown
March 21, 1948 – July 2, 2023
Grayson Warren Brown, a giant in the world of Catholic liturgy and a pioneer of the Gospel Mass, completed his earthly journey at the age of 75. We remember and give thanks for a life that radiated the Spirit through word, music, and ministry.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1948, Grayson came of age during a time of profound transformation in the Church and in the nation. As a young man, he found his voice—and his vocation—at St. Ann Catholic Church, Brooklyn, where he served as organist and choir director while still in high school. His conversion to Catholicism and study of theology at Fordham University marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to uniting faith, culture, and justice through the beauty of worship.
From the earliest days of the Black Catholic Movement, Grayson was not merely a participant—he was a path-maker. In the company of visionaries like Fr. Clarence Rivers and Leon C. Roberts, he helped give birth to a new sound in Catholic worship: one that was authentically Black, profoundly Catholic, and unapologetically joyful. His landmark 1977 album “Hymns of a Soulfull People,” created with the Howard University Gospel Choir, brought the voice of Black Catholic spirituality into the sanctuary with power and praise. Songs like “Jesus, the Bread of Life” and “Jesus Died Upon the Cross” became staples—not only within Catholic parishes, but across denominational lines.
Grayson’s music did not aim merely to be performed; it was meant to be prayed. As his longtime friend Joan Davenport reflected, “Whatever he wrote, we prayed and sang with a spirit of conviction… Grayson’s boldness became our boldness.” His liturgical works gave voice to communities longing to be seen, heard, and embraced. And in the process, he transformed worship itself into a vessel of healing and hope.
He was not only a composer but a gifted preacher, teacher, and author. Through his many books, workshops, and recordings—including “Been So Busy,” “Have You Heard the News,” and “Praise the Lord in Many Voices”—he called the Church to deeper unity, broader inclusion, and more authentic love. He challenged communities to break open the Gospel and let it speak through every language, rhythm, and people.
Grayson’s ministry was always rooted in love—a love shaped by the Eucharist, sharpened by justice, and extended freely to all. As he said in one of his final public interviews, “All you need is love… We really, really need to start loving each other and taking care of each other, being good to each other.” These weren’t just words for Grayson. They were the melody of his life.
He served faithfully on the Culture and Worship Advisory Committee for the National Office of Black Catholics, contributed to “Freeing the Spirit,” and collaborated closely with Oregon Catholic Press for decades, ensuring that his music would reach communities far and wide. And while his work was born from the Black experience, it resonated in churches across racial, cultural, and denominational lines—proclaiming always the universal message of God’s liberating love.
Grayson Warren Brown’s legacy lives on in the voices of choirs, in the gatherings of God’s people, and in every community that continues to sing with courage, pray with joy, and live with love.
We give thanks for the song of his life—a song that taught us how to pray, how to praise, and how to love more boldly.
Grayson, rest now in the peace of the One you served so well.