Brown (Karl) Papers, 1980-1993

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Title:: Karl Brown papers
Dates:: 1980-1993
Creators:: Brown, Karl
Abstract:: Programs, posters, flyers, scores, newspaper clippings, and several administrative documents related to the Society of Gay and Lesbian Composers. Also includes posters, flyers, programs, musical scores, and clippings related to Automatic Pilot, a gay rock band active in San Francisco from 1980 to 1985. According to a website created by band founder Karl Brown, the band started "as a punk rock parody with very gay attitude and lyrics," growing out of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, before "develop[ing] a unique form of hard core rock music performed on all acoustic instruments, with complex vocal harmonies and no guitar, which they called Erotic Jazz Wave. The core members went on to create professional recordings produced by singer Tony Kramedas, with a decidedly more electric sound. The songwriters Karl Brown and Matthew McQueen then contributed music to Theater Rhinoceros The AIDS Show." Additional information is available here: https://web.archive.org/web/20241207062857/https://automaticpilot.org/history.html
Extent:: 2.75 linear feet (4 oversized folders)
Language:
Preferred citation:: Karl Brown papers. GLBT Historical Society

Scope and content:: Programs, posters, flyers, scores, newspaper clippings, and several administrative documents related to the Society of Gay and Lesbian Composers. Also includes posters, flyers, programs, musical scores, and clippings related to Automatic Pilot, a gay rock band active in San Francisco from 1980 to 1985. According to a website created by band founder Karl Brown, the band started "as a punk rock parody with very gay attitude and lyrics," growing out of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, before "develop[ing] a unique form of hard core rock music performed on all acoustic instruments, with complex vocal harmonies and no guitar, which they called Erotic Jazz Wave. The core members went on to create professional recordings produced by singer Tony Kramedas, with a decidedly more electric sound. The songwriters Karl Brown and Matthew McQueen then contributed music to Theater Rhinoceros The AIDS Show." Additional information is available here: https://web.archive.org/web/20241207062857/https://automaticpilot.org/history.html
Acquisition information:: Gift of Karl Brown, October 2024. Addition in July 2025.

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff.
Date Prepared:: 1980-1993
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:: Collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: Copyright to materials created by Karl Brown has been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society. All requests for reproductions and/or permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the GLBT Historical Society Archivist. Copyright to other materials in the collection may be held by their creators, or the creators' heirs or assigns. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Location of this collection:: GLBT Historical Society

989 Market Street, Lower Level

San Francisco, CA 94103, US