January 21 - Maxine Brown Died

Maxine Brown Russell, a member of the groundbreaking trio the Browns with siblings Jim Ed and Bonnie Brown, died Monday in hospice care in Little Rock, Arkansas, from complications of kidney and heart disease. Maxine was 87 years old. 

A songwriter and singer, Russell and her siblings launched their careers on the “Louisiana Hayride” in the 1950s and had a several chart-topping songs in the ’50s and ’60s, including “The Three Bells,” ″The Old Lamplighter,” ″Scarlet Ribbons,” and “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On.” The trio toured with Elvis Presley and, like Presley, would sign to RCA Records in 1955. 

(Source: Billboard / Rolling Stone)