FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN HISTORIC ARTISTS AJ BROWN
May 2009 Legendary Highwaymen Art Show in Anna Maria, Florida featured AJ Brown Al Black RL Lewis Carnell Smith Willie Reagan and more
Handpicked, accredited and mentored exclusively by Hall of Fame Original Highwaymen Johnny Lee Daniels. The 40-year veteran artist had no heirs that painted, “he asked his God niece AJ Brown to be his business partner” in his Highwaymen Art Gallery in Fort Pierce, Florida. Highest honors are credited to Daniels who bestowed his heritage and established her life as a Florida Highwaymen Artist 2nd Generation. Daniels has a respected 1950s traditional legacy of five non-blood close friends. Four men of the Historic 2nd Generation and female AJ Brown. She is a story untold.
The Highwaymen is a name earned later in the mid-90s, for the way the young entrepreneurs sold their art along the side of the road when museums and galleries would not showcase black art, during the Jim Crow Era. Twenty-six African American painters became a part of this movement. All men and the only woman of the original group began to paint in Fort Pierce and surrounding areas. During their heyday, the group captured and documented the state of Florida through vivid oil paintings, during the 1950s, ’60s; '70s, and today.
The legends were instrumental in forming the second movement. The iconic Florida landscape painters handed down their name, history, and heritage to their chosen 2nd Generation. Established in 1973 (just as the Originals) with friends, family, blood and non-blood the 2nd Generation is the generation after, typically twenty years younger and grew up during the Civil Rights Era.
Early Original, James Gibson, a 50-year veteran has a legacy. Gibson was the first to teach AJ Brown to paint the famous Red Royal Poinciana tree’s. After two years and a demanding schedule, he suggested she paint with Johnny Daniels, and so she did. The icons revealed stories of Highwaymen history and shared tales of their past! Over the years, legends witnessed as AJ Brown was endorsed as a member and is historically the only female friend among the "2nd Generation" group. What was once a common dynamic among the Original group, "friends" are now an old 1950s tradition and a rare find as a female among both generations." Today, Brown refers to herself as the "Florida Highwaymen Historic Generation." Supported by four iconic early Originals, Brown's journey is one of uniqueness. HONORED TO BE PART OF AMERICA’S HISTORY!
May 2009, For decades the Highwaymen was a traditional informal group. It was historic when the first 501(c)3 organization formed and filed on June 24, 2009, under the name Florida Highwaymen Artist and History Center Inc., a name given by James Gibson. Curtis Arnett was elected as Vice President and the Treasurer was Carnell Smith. R.L. Lewis was elected Secretary; however, delegated his position to AJ Brown. The goal was to open a Highwaymen museum. Included as a 2nd Generation member, AJ Brown was officially appointed as Secretary. Brown was authorized to perform all significant duties and was a member of the By-Laws Committee. The Original Highwaymen Ms. Mary Ann Carroll and First Lady held Presidency for two years. For the first time in history, both generations, the Originals, and the 2nd Generation unified!
The Originals agreed to continue to preserve Florida’s art history and included the 2nd Generation. These historic facts marked a hallmark era in time. May 26, 2009, tragedy struck when the life of Johnny Daniels suddenly came to an end. His life’s work, endorsements, achievements, and legacy were rightfully sealed with his death. Hall of Fame Willie Daniels continued to paint with Brown, he supported his brother's legacy and her journey as a Highwaymen. The Daniels mother died young, leaving six, their eldest sister Ms. Curley Daniels extended her role as mother and her love for her family. January 26, 2010, Ms. Curley's affection for Brown, and respect for her youngest brother, "Johnny Daniels legacy" their close friendship and business partnership, named AJ Brown as her Goddaughter, and as God family.
Today, Historic Generation AJ Brown still paints on Alfred Hair 1950s assembly line invention
Critiria of a Highwaymen: AJ Brown is an official Highwaymen member. Over the years she was mentored, accredited, and endorsed by four Hall of Fame Original Florida Highwaymen Artists. Scholars of the 1950s, "The Early Original Highwaymen Historians," James Gibson, Johnny Daniels, Al Black, and Willie Daniels authenticated and endorsed one female, AJ Brown which continued over several years.
Appointed to serve as the first secretary and by-laws committee member, Brown constructed the Johnny Daniels gravesite monument, and wrote the Highwaymen story which appears on one side of the Obelisk monument collaboration in Fort Pierce, Florida, which was never documented. Most importantly, she is dedicated and actively highways on the road selling her treasured history. AJ Brown accurately and positively promotes each member and the institution.
As a female, labeled 2nd Generation, and African American AJ Brown has been an active part of the organization for well over a decade. Politics is personal, influences are passed on. A male-dominated group, the 2nd Generation is well received, treated with greater respect and enjoys a wealth of benefits that today, female AJ Brown does not.
In May 2009, AJ Brown was authorized to construct Johnny's grave-site monument by his beneficiary Ms. Curley Daniels and commissioned by Cultural Affairs Manager, Jody Bonet. Brown offers a significant history and story to his legacy. In 2012, Fort Pierce City Hall, and Florida Humanities Council invested grant funds in the history of the Highwaymen. Created, was the Highwaymen Trail and Fort Pierce Tours, through-out the city; and the Highwaymen website attracts visitors worldwide. Highlighted on these monuments are five, a 1950s tradition of unique close friends. These Historic Highwaymen members of the Johnny Daniels legacy, are included on the trail as a part of Florida's Highwaymen history.
“Primitive Poinciana” by AJ Brown, Al Black sold AJ's art alongside his from the trunk of his car
AJ Brown's family roots began in Tallahassee Florida. Born in Virginia, raised in Miami, Brown's home is Fort Pierce, Florida. From a long line of soldiers, warriors for their country, her family has historically devoted a lifetime of service and sacrifices to the brotherhood of the military, for the United States of America.
TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, A HERO IS REMEMBERED!
Highwaymen History Lives On! The United States of America; Highest Office of the Land; December 25, 2014, AJ Brown meets the 44th President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. AJ Brown hands down two of her paintings and a collection of Original and Historic Generation Highwaymen art to the First Family White House private collection.
An open invitation to this site is welcomed to discover unknown history. This site serves to honor, respect and unify; enlighten and open minds and hearts to the African American group, known as the Florida Highwaymen Artists. Several Original Highwaymen have mentored close friends and family. Established in 1973, the 2nd Generation can be known as the Florida Highwaymen Historic Artists. They continue to pave the movement, a road for the future generation. Thank you, America for investing and treating the history of our generations as worthy.
For more than a decade AJ Brown was the only Highwaymen artist without an online presence. Initially in 2011, during the 2nd 501(c)3 organization, for reasons unknown, Brown was not allowed to attend. As a result, she was denied interviews with university professors and news media writers. Her history was not documented in the initial 2012 Highwaymen Trail or Fort Pierce Tours projects. After five years, she is grateful, it was a start in 2017 when some of her histories were later recorded to the Fort Pierce Highwaymen Trails, and website. She shares her history and story, voice and character, her truth and contributions as a member of the Florida Highwaymen Art History.
Highwaymen Historic AJ Brown, A History Maker
A beautiful example of art transcending time is found in the story of the "Florida Highwaymen."
AJ Brown is a Florida Highwaymen Historic Artist of Fort Pierce, Florida.
An uncommon dynamic, AJ Brown is a rare find as the only female-friend among the Highwaymen Historic Generation.
History was handed down as she was mentored by legends; the highest honors are credited to Original Highwaymen Johnny Lee Daniels.
Instructed and history was by James Gibson, accredited and painted with Willie Daniels, highway-ed, and painted with Al Black.
Bestowed the name 2nd Generation Highwaymen, AJ Brown refers herself as "Highwaymen Historic Artist," and was endorsed by the Original legends themselves!