Portrait of Katherine Smart Brown

History Biographical: Katherine (Katie) Smart was born in Kilsyth, Scotland on 30 December 1893. Her father James Smart was an accomplished musician, and the entire family was involved with music. About 1915 Katherine Smart married George Brown. The couple had two sons, George Alexander and Jimmy. The couple found work providing musical accompaniment in Calgary's silent movie theatres. The Browns moved to Lethbridge from Calgary in the early 1920s and again found work in the silent movie theatres. George Brown played the violin and his wife Katherine the piano and organ. In 1933 they returned to Calgary, where George and Katherine taught music, and the family played in the Brown Trio; George on the violin, Katherine on the piano and organ, and their son George on the cello. Their other son Jimmy was also a musician, playing the violin. About 1934 the family was hired by Alfred W. Shackleford and returned to Lethbridge to play in his movie theatres. In 1934 or 1935 George and Katherine Brown founded their own business, Brown’s Musical Supplies. The business continued at various locations in downtown Lethbridge until the 1960s. Katherine and her husband were also part of the Brown Ensemble which played at events in Lethbridge for many years. The other members of the group were Harold McIlvena and Gordon Henderson. Katherine Brown died on 20 April 1963, age 69, and is buried in Mountain View Cemtery, Lethbridge.