Scott Wesley Brown

Joel Caballero
May 7
3 min read

Updated: May 20

Scott Wesley Brown (born June 4, 1952) is an American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter, musician, producer and author. He has recorded over 25 albums and has toured over 50 countries, nicknaming him a "musicianary."

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Washington, D.C., Brown's early exposure to music came through his grandmother's piano, an old upright instrument associated with Sunday school settings and barely in tune. At the age of three, he described it as opening "a world of endless possibilities," marking his initial attraction to music within a familial context that included religious elements. Brown's interest in music emerged early in his childhood. By his seventh birthday, he received his first guitar as a gift and began self-teaching himself to play, spending hours improvising songs despite lacking formal instruction on tuning or technique. Brown's entry into the music industry began with his self-titled debut album, Scott Wesley Brown, released in 1973 on the independent label Georgetown Records.

Brown then recorded for Sparrow Records for much of his career for 10 years from 1977 to 1987. His style of music from the 1970s was more folk pop during the Jesus Movement of the 1970s and up to the 1980s, it was more adult contemporary but with the folk pop intact. Brown has written songs recorded by other CCM (contemporary Christian music) artists like Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Petra, The Imperials, Bruce Carroll, Pat Boone and opera star Plácido Domingo.

Before recording songs and touring with dozens of artists, he met Steve Camp, then an unknown artist fresh out of high school, who would join Scott under the artist management of Larry Norman, who mentored both of them. Brown moved to Franklin, Tennessee in 1981 and later founded I CARE Ministries. In 1984, he compiled a mission-focused compilation project entitled All the Church Is Singing. The project was created to support the underground church in Communist countries behind the Iron Curtain, specifically in the USSR (now Russia) and Eastern Europe. Rather than a solo performance, the album featured a collection of music from various American and European Christian artists. In 1985, Brown participated in Camp's charity single "Do Something Now" for Compassion International as part of the artists collective The CAUSE.

Brown's signature songs include "I Wish You Jesus," "This Is the Day," "I'm Not Religious, I Just Love the Lord," "This Little Child," "He Will Carry You" and "Yeshua Ha Mashiach." In 2025, Brown released his biography I Wish You Jesus: The Life and Music of Scott Wesley Brown. Brown wrote the book with Keith Manley as it chronicles his decades-long career in contemporary Christian music, his global mission work, and the personal stories behind his most influential songs. Brown has been married to his wife, Belinda, since 1976. The couple has two daughters, both of whom Brown has described as actively following their faith.

More information on Scott Wesley Brown at Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Wesley_Brown

Discography

Scott Wesley Brown (1973)

I Am a Christian (1976)

I'm Not Religious, I Just Love the Lord (1977)

Songs and Stories: Live in Concert (1978)

One Step Closer (1979)

SWB (1981)

Signature (1982)

All My Best (1984) (compilation album)

Kingdom of Love (1984)