If Kate (Henson) Brown achieves all her dreams, Oxford residents will be saying, “I knew her when. . .”
The 25-year-old former Oxford resident and 1997 OHS graduate moved to California two years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a famous and successful recording artist and television personality.
Brown, the daughter of Oxford residents Gary and Dawn Henson, said her “ultimate goal” is to “land a record deal; have at least one song from each record be in the top five on the charts; be a positive role model; be in commercials or do guest appearances on television; and to have roles in movies as well.”
“I see myself achieving the goal of being successful in both music and TV, and if not, be content with the fact that I gave it my all. I don’t want to have any regrets about my dream,” she said.
In September 2002, Brown took the first step toward possibly achieving that “ultimate goal” by signing a two-year contract with NK Productions.
“Their job is to mold and shape talent that they feel are ‘stars’ in waiting,” said Brown in an e-mail interview. “They shop you to the rcord labels because they have contacts within the labels. Basically, they get a finder’s fee from the record label if they get you signed.”
“When I landed the contract I was in shock. I felt very fortunate and like I was on the right path,” Brown added.
Brown finished her first “demo” recording in September 2003.
“The music on my demo is kind of hard to explain,” she said. “Everyone has a different perception of what it is like. I would say it’s unique in the way that I song, and also catchy.”
“My music is like a folk, rock sound,” Brown explained. “People liken it to Jewel, the Cranberries, Natalie Merchant, Alanis Morriset and Enya.”
Although she took piano lessons growing up and recently began learning to play the guitar, Brown admitted she doesn’t “have the passion for those instruments like I do for singing.”
“I got involved in music because it is where my heart lies. I feel a lot of passion for music. It allows me to express myself completely,” Brown said.
“I have been singing since I was a kid,” she said. “I started singing in church plays and then in grade school I was in music class and an afterschool group called ‘Super Singers.’ Then in high school I was in Choralaires as well as some after school singing projects. I took private voice lessons and was trained classically.”
When asked who was her most influential teacher, Brown said it was Choralaires instructor Lew Wilson.
“He gave me confidence and told me to never stop singing no matter what,” she said.
In addition to singing, Brown is also pursuing a career in acting. She’s appeared as an extra on television shows, such as Friends, Alias, The District and Joan of Arcadia, and in movies, such as Back to the Batcave.
“Sometimes I play a high school student, sometimes I play a young woman, and sometimes, like today, I played a young model type from Greece,” she said. “I have not had any lines yet, but I’m trying!”
“I have been asked to be a guest on a cable show called Question Reality, where I will be interviewed and then I’ll sing my music,” Brown said.
“I would love to do some acting for sure. Not necessarily full-time, just a show here, a movie there, and maybe some commercials.”
Although she said she hasn’t been “formally introduced” to anyone famous, Brown said she has “exchanged a few words” with actors Adam West and Matt LeBlanc.
“When (you’re) on the set, you can’t talk to the stars unless they initiate conversation,” Brown said. “It is definitely cool to see how they actually film things and to see your favorite stars or to be on your favorite show.”
Prior to pursuing her dreams of fame in the glitzy world of show business, Brown and her husband of almost 4? years, Matt Brown, owned and operated a property damage appraising company called Right Way Adjusting, which was established in Oxford.
“Our company actually did property damage appraising throughout the country,” she said. “We would travel to wherever there had been a major storm and assess the damage.”
“We are not involved in the company any longer. My husband is still in the same line of work,” Brown noted.
Brown explained why she decided to give up her successful company and pursue her dream.
“I knew that if I didn’t give a fair go to my dream I would regret it later because when I’m not pursuing it in some way, I don’t feel whole, nor am I completely content,” she explained.
Brown said her husband has been “very supportive and patient” with her pursuit of a music career.
“That’s a major reason why we moved to California so that I would have a fair shot at my dream,” she said. “Prior to that I devoted myself to him and the pursuit of his career by helping him and traveling with him around the country.”
“I just want to say that I feel blessed to have the opportunity to pursue my dream and to be supported by my family and friends.”