Kathy Brown is an American house music singer from South Carolina, best known as the voice of Praxis’ Turn Me Out, a US dance No.1, and Soul Central’s Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own), a UK top 10 hit in 2004. Since her first single in 1993 she has worked with producers including David Morales and David Shaw, and released on labels such as Defected.
Kathy Brown at a glance
- Born: 12 July 1960, South Carolina, USA
- Roots: gospel choir, then the R&B group Sweet Cinnamon
- First single: Can’t Play Around (1993)
- Biggest records: Turn Me Out, Joy and Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)
- Collaborators: David Shaw, David Morales, Soul Central and Richard Earnshaw
- Sound: soulful, gospel-rooted vocal house
From gospel choir to house music
Kathy Brown grew up singing in her local gospel choir in South Carolina, and that gospel power is still at the heart of her voice. She went on to sing with the R&B group Sweet Cinnamon before a meeting with New York producer David Shaw in 1993 led to her first single, Can’t Play Around, which reached No.13 on Billboard’s dance chart.
Turn Me Out
In 1994 she sang lead on Turn Me Out by Praxis, which went to No.1 on the US dance chart and reached No.35 in the UK. The song became a house classic, and a 1997 version, Turn Me Out (Turn to Sugar), topped the Billboard dance chart again. New remixes returned it to the chart in 2003.
Kathy Brown’s biggest records
- 1993: Can’t Play Around, No.13 on the US dance chart
- 1994: Praxis, Turn Me Out, US dance No.1, UK No.35
- 1997: Turn Me Out (Turn to Sugar), US dance No.1
- 1999: Joy, with David Morales, US dance No.4
- 2002: You Give Good Love, UK Dance Chart top 10
- 2004: Soul Central, Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own), UK No.6 and UK Dance No.1
- 2006: Get Another Love on Defected, BBC Radio 1 Dance Chart top 10
- 2008: White Knights, Sound of the City, No.6 on the UK Upfront Club chart
Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)
Her biggest UK hit came in 2004 with Soul Central. Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own) set Kathy’s vocal over a sample of Rhythim Is Rhythim’s 1989 Detroit classic Strings of Life, reaching No.6 on the UK Singles Chart and No.1 on the UK Dance Chart.
Still singing
Kathy has continued to work with house producers, including David Shaw and Deep Influence on Feel the Music and Love and Pain in 2010, and guesting on Maya Blandy’s debut single Stardust in 2023. Her records are still played by soulful house DJs today, including on Steve Bell’s DancersHip Mix Show, where Risk Assessment’s remix of I Had Enuff featured in the September 2025 episode.
Where to start listening
- Praxis featuring Kathy Brown, Turn Me Out
- Soul Central featuring Kathy Brown, Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own)
- David Morales and Kathy Brown, Joy
- Get Another Love (Defected)
Read more on the Kathy Brown Wikipedia page.
Frequently asked questions about Kathy Brown
Who is Kathy Brown?
Kathy Brown is an American house music singer from South Carolina, known for Turn Me Out with Praxis and Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own) with Soul Central.
Who sang Turn Me Out?
Kathy Brown sang lead vocals on Turn Me Out by Praxis, released in 1994. It went to No.1 on the US dance chart.
Did Kathy Brown sing on Strings of Life?
Yes. She sang on Soul Central’s Strings of Life (Stronger on My Own), which reached No.6 in the UK in 2004.
Has Kathy Brown worked with David Morales?
Yes. Their 1999 collaboration Joy reached No.4 on the US dance chart.
Keep listening
Steve Bell plays soulful, deep and vocal house across the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Catch his monthly DancersHip show and live sets, or see the media pack to book Steve for your event.
