Amanda Brown

Amanda’s story is steeped in music, growing up in a family of multi-generational musicians. Born in Mobile, Alabama, she was taught at a young age to sing harmony in church with her three sisters.  Her family moved frequently from town to town in south Alabama and north Florida, following her father’s construction work.   Through these transitions, music remained a constant, as it was always at the heart of her family with both her parents and grandparents playing various instruments and singing.    Her maternal grandfather was a pivotal influence on her musical journey, often playing and jamming on Saturday nights with the “boys” in the cotton mill village.   He often told her she needed to be able to play a song with four chords (not three) and play it in three different keys on the guitar to be allowed to play with them.   At 17, she picked up the guitar for the first time and never looked back.  Along the way, she added the banjo, mandolin and bass guitar to her repertoire, but acoustic guitar remains her first love.  

In high school, she played alto and tenor saxophone in the band and was drum major of the band in her senior year.   She met the love of her life at 14, married him at 17 and together they raised a daughter and a son, both of whom are singers and musicians in their own right passing along a rich musical heritage to their children.  In her thirties, she co-founded her first band, Still Magnolias, along with her cousin, Karen Korb, and a local Columbus, Georgia favorite, Rebecca Harris Shavers.  The group developed a loyal following across Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee with their perfectly blended three-part harmonies and were often joined by other local musicians when required by larger venues, such as the Civic Center or Performing Arts Center.  Passionate about using music for good, the trio dedicated many performances to supporting domestic violence shelters and were honored to open for many notable artists that found their way to Columbus, Georgia, including George Jones, the Ol’ Possum himself, and Michael Martin Murphy, who was famous for such hits as “Wildfire” and “What’s Forever For.”

Amanda recently retired after a successful nursing career, the last 15 years as a nurse executive consultant in her own business, A. Brown Consulting, LLC.  These days, she resides in Choctaw Beach, Florida and is a founding member of 20 West, a dynamic six-piece band (three men, three women) delivering feel-good, sing-along music for locals and “temporary locals” alike, while making new friends along the way.  Their performances bring people together to dance, sing, and share in the joy of music.   Unlike many carbon-copy cover bands, 20 West has carved out a distinctive sound blending influences from old school rock and roll, soul, rhythm and blues, pop, folk, and Americana. Their song choices offer a fresh twist—familiar but not overplayed—ensuring every show feels like a unique celebration.