"Danny Joe Brown, a founding member of Southern rockers Molly Hatchet, and singer and co-writer of the band's biggest hits from the late '70s, died on Thursday at his home in Davie of complications from pneumonia. He was 53.
The lone voice in a six-piece band that featured three lead guitarists, Mr. Brown, a Jacksonville native, matched the clamor of Molly Hatchet's music with a big, muscular growl on songs such as Flirtin' with Disaster, Whiskey Man and Gator Country. Mr. Brown co-founded Molly Hatchet in Jacksonville in 1975. The band adopted a hard-rocking sound inspired in part by the boogie and blues of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Molly Hatchet also gained a reputation for partying hard, and after 2 million-selling studio albums and constant touring, Mr. Brown quit the band in 1980, citing exhaustion. He put out a solo album and rejoined Molly Hatchet in the 1980s."
Below are two photos I took of Danny Joe Brown, back when he and Molly Hatchet played in our area. These were taken on June 17, 1992 at Club 22 between Huntingdon and Mount Union. Bashful opened the show.
