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Richard Shaw BrownAmerican musician, vocalist and songwriter; leader of the 1960s psychedelic rock band "The Misunderstood"
Date of Birth: 26.04.1947
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Richard Show Brown
- Spiritual Journey in India
- Return to the United States and Post-Music Career
- Gemologist and Jewelry Designer Career
- Legacy and Recent Work
Biography of Richard Show Brown
Early Life and Music CareerRichard Show Brown is an American musician, vocalist, and songwriter, best known as the leader of the psychedelic rock band "The Misunderstood" in the 1960s. The band was founded in Riverside, California in 1963. In 1966, they moved to London after receiving an invitation from John Peel, where they released three singles. The Misunderstood were described as one of the most innovative and mysterious musical collectives of the 1960s, and their songs, such as "I Can Take You to the Sun" and "Children of the Sun," are considered classics of psychedelic rock.
Spiritual Journey in India
In 1967, Richard Brown received spiritual initiation from Krishnaite guru and founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who gave him the Sanskrit name "Hrishikesh Das." Brown then spent six and a half years as a monk in Vrindavan, receiving spiritual guidance from Swami Bon. In 1970, he took sannyasa initiation (the renounced order of life) from Swami Bon and was given the name Lalitananda Swami. During his time in India, Brown learned Sanskrit, Hindi, and Bengali and assisted Swami Bon in his efforts to develop education in the Vrindavan region. Through Swami Bon, Brown had the opportunity to interact with influential members of Indian society, including two meetings with then-President of India V. V. Giri in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. He also organized two official receptions in Bombay and Delhi, attended by renowned Indian politicians and businessmen.
Return to the United States and Post-Music Career
At the end of 1973, Brown left Swami Bon's ashram and returned to his guru Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He communicated with Prabhupada in Bengali and helped him translate the medieval Sanskrit theological treatise "Upadeshamrita" into English. In 1979, Brown was granted amnesty by the US government and was able to return to the United States. In 1982, he formed the band Influence with fellow former member of The Misunderstood, guitarist Glenn Campbell. They released two songs, "No Survivors" and "Queen of Madness," on the Rough Trade Records label in 1983. The band disbanded in 1985 when Campbell moved to New Zealand and Brown relocated to Thailand.
Gemologist and Jewelry Designer Career
Since the mid-1980s, Richard Brown has worked as a professional gemologist and popular jewelry designer in Bangkok. He specializes in creating jewelry based on the Hindu Navaratna system. Brown has written thirteen books on gemology, with his work "Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans" receiving the Benjamin Franklin Award from the Publishers Marketing Association in 1996. As a gemologist and designer, he has made numerous appearances on Thai television and in the press.
Legacy and Recent Work
Throughout the years, Richard Brown's contributions to music and his spiritual journey have been recognized and celebrated. The Misunderstood's music has been reissued on albums such as "Before the Dream Faded" (1992), "The Legendary Goldstar Album" (1997), and "The Misunderstood: Broken Road" (1998). In 2004, the album "The Lost Acetates 1965-1966," featuring previously unreleased tracks, was released on the Ugly Things Records label. Brown also co-wrote a screenplay based on his life and the history of The Misunderstood, which was later turned into the novel "Like, Misunderstood" in 2007, co-authored with Michael Stacks.
