Drew Bundini Brown
Encyclopedia
Drew Bundini Brown was an assistant trainer
and cornerman
of Muhammad Ali
throughout the former heavyweight champion's career, as well as occasional film actor.
, Florida
, and raised in nearby Sanford, Florida
, was a junior high school dropout after the eighth grade. The strapping young Brown, who had matured rapidly during puberty, was able to lie about his age and join the Navy
as a messboy at age 13. Discharged two years later, he would become a United States Merchant Marine
, and would spend 12 years traveling the world, later becoming a part of Sugar Ray Robinson
's entourage as a cornerman.
In the early 1950s, while living in Harlem, New York, Brown met and married Rhoda Palestine, a white woman, and a native of Brooklyn, through whom he would eventually convert to Reform Judaism
. Palestine's parents were of a Russian-Jewish extraction. In a time when interracial relationships and marriages were considered by many as taboo (in some southern states interracial marriage was still illegal), They had one son, Drew Brown III (born January 20, 1955, in Harlem), who later joined the United states Navy, became a fighter pilot and won numerous awards for his service. He then went on to write a best selling book titled You Gotta Believe. He is now a nationally known speaker. Drew III, having been born a Black Jew, was the only one to ever fly off of a Navy aircraft carrier, making U.S. military history. According to the autobiography
of singer Ruth Brown
(no relation), he was also the true father of her son Ronald David Jackson ("Ronnie"), though he was unaware of this during the boy's childhood.
Brown was also one of Ali's speech writers. He wrote certain poems, such as coining Ali's famous and oft quoted :
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see."
Ali used the poem to taunt Sonny Liston
at the press conference prior to his February 25, 1964 victory over the WBA
and WBC
champion to claim both titles.
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
and cornerman
Cornerman
A cornerman, or simply corner, is a combat sports term for a coach or team mate assisting a fighter during the length of a bout. The cornerman remains outside the combat area during the fight, but in proximity, and can assist the fighter through instruction...
of Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
throughout the former heavyweight champion's career, as well as occasional film actor.
Personal life
Brown, who was born in MidwayMidway, Florida
Midway is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Florida:*Midway, Gadsden County, Florida*Midway, Santa Rosa County, Florida*Midway, Seminole County, Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and raised in nearby Sanford, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
, was a junior high school dropout after the eighth grade. The strapping young Brown, who had matured rapidly during puberty, was able to lie about his age and join the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
as a messboy at age 13. Discharged two years later, he would become a United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
, and would spend 12 years traveling the world, later becoming a part of Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
's entourage as a cornerman.
In the early 1950s, while living in Harlem, New York, Brown met and married Rhoda Palestine, a white woman, and a native of Brooklyn, through whom he would eventually convert to Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
. Palestine's parents were of a Russian-Jewish extraction. In a time when interracial relationships and marriages were considered by many as taboo (in some southern states interracial marriage was still illegal), They had one son, Drew Brown III (born January 20, 1955, in Harlem), who later joined the United states Navy, became a fighter pilot and won numerous awards for his service. He then went on to write a best selling book titled You Gotta Believe. He is now a nationally known speaker. Drew III, having been born a Black Jew, was the only one to ever fly off of a Navy aircraft carrier, making U.S. military history. According to the autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
of singer Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown was an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, composer and actress, noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and " He Treats Your Daughter Mean".For these...
(no relation), he was also the true father of her son Ronald David Jackson ("Ronnie"), though he was unaware of this during the boy's childhood.
Career with Muhammad Ali
Brown joined Ali's entourage as a cornerman in 1963, when the boxer was known as Cassius Clay, and remained with him until his final fight in 1981.Brown was also one of Ali's speech writers. He wrote certain poems, such as coining Ali's famous and oft quoted :
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see."
Ali used the poem to taunt Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston
Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was a professional boxer and ex-convict known for his toughness, punching power, and intimidating appearance who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round...
at the press conference prior to his February 25, 1964 victory over the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
and WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
champion to claim both titles.
as Actor
- Penitentiary III (1987) .... Sugg/Inmate #2
- The Color PurpleThe Color PurpleThe Color Purple is an acclaimed 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction...
(1985) .... Jook Joint Patron - Aaron Loves Angela (1975) .... Referee
- Shaft's Big Score! (1972) .... Willy
- ShaftShaft (1971 film)Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An action film with elements of film noir, Shaft tells the story of a black private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob neighborhoods in order to find the...
(1971) .... Willy
as Self
- When We Were KingsWhen We Were KingsWhen We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire on October 30, 1974.The film features a number of celebrities, including James Brown, Jim...
(1996) (uncredited) .... Himself - Doin' Time (1985) .... Himself (special appearance)
- Muhammad and Larry (1980) .... Himself
- The GreatestThe GreatestThe Greatest may refer to:* Muhammad Ali, former American heavyweight boxing champion* The Greatest , a 2005 compilation album by Ian Brown* The Greatest , a 2006 album by Cat Power...
(1977) .... Himself - "Am laufenden Band" (1976) .... Himself (1 TV episode, dated 22 May 1976 .... Himself
Archive footage
- Beat This!: A Hip hopHip hopHip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
History (1984) (TV) .... Himself - A.K.A. Cassius ClayA.k.a. Cassius ClayA.k.a. Cassius Clay is a 1970 boxing documentary film about the former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali....
(1970) .... Himself