Prisoner's Song

The New Jersey State Court of Pardons last week paroled a lifer, Negro Clinton Brewer, because during 19 years in jail he had become a musician. He had written Stampede in G Minor, a jazz tune which sold well on an Okeh record; stood to get an orchestra arranger's job if freed. Convict Brewer, who had killed his wife during a quarrel, lost his speech because of a prison neurosis. Negro Richard Wright, author of Native Son (the story of a Negro killer), became interested in Musician Brewer. So did Jazz Pundit John Hammond and Band Leader Count Basie, who recorded Stampede and offered the prisoner a job. Last week Brewer had his speech back, said: "In a way it was a good thing I came to prison."

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