When Shannon Browne plays her drums, twenty-two years of experience informs every authoritative stoke. A working musician since 1999, Browne’s unrelenting groove and steady pocket has graced the stages of many local and national recording artists across a spectrum of Jazz, R&B, Neo-Soul, and Gospel music.

Shannon Browne was born in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1981, and was keenly interested in drums at the early age of five. After her father brought her first drum set, Shannon made a promise to make her passion a priority and pursue the education of drums to the fullest.

In 1994, Browne was accepted at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C as an instrumental music major. While at Duke Ellington, she was a member of the East of the River Boys and Girls Steel Band and the New Washingtonian Jazz Ensemble, which played both nationally and internationally for several years. Shannon was later awarded a scholarship to Hampton University where she obtained a B.A. in Music Education in 2004.

After graduating, Browne returned to the D.C. area and conducted private drum lessons and through this exposure she was hired as a drum and piano instructor for the Back to Basics School of Music in Washington, D.C. Due to Browne’s keen teaching abilities and foresight, she became the Chair of the Drum Department and restructured the course curriculum.

In 2006, Browne toured and played with national recording artist, Musiq Soulchild. Currently, Browne is the drummer for the all-female, R&B band, Be’la Dona, whose growth has sprouted tremendously in the Metropolitan area; landing the Go-Go Award for Best Up and Coming Artist/Band. Also, Browne serves as a musician in several churches around the DC and Maryland area.

Browne has accompanied artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius (Floetry), Leigh Jones, Case, Howard Hewitt, Tony Terry, Chuck Brown, Sugar Bear & EU and many more. Also, Browne has opened for artists such as Eric Roberson, Jill Scott, and Frankie Beverly and Maze.

Shannon Browne is praised for her steady pocket groove and diverse playing style. She firmly believes in the “art of being great is being yourself.”