Timeline

1927 (Aug 25) - Born in Detroit, MI to Ida Mae [Hill] and Hilliard Brazil. (Brother Zodis born in Laurens County, GA May 6, 1924)
1940 (Apr 1) - Parents divorce
1945-1950 – Tool and Die Maker Apprentice at Dodge Main Plant
1946 (Jan) - Graduated Cass Technical High School – Mechanical Arts
1946 (Feb) – 1947 (Mar) – US Army, stationed at Geiger Field (near Spokane)
1948 - Purchased residence at 17846 Fleming Street, Detroit, MI 48212
1948-1950 - Detroit Institute of Music
1950-1952 - Detroit Conservatory of Music
1950-1955 – Machinist/Tool and Die Maker/Inspector at Detroit Tank Arsenal
1950 (Dec 4) - Mother dies
1953 - Brother marries and moves out
1953-1960 - Led Jazztet
1955-1958 - Led Musicians Incorporated
1956-1961 - Tool and Die Maker at Chrysler Missile Plant
1961 (Sep) - Moved to Seattle
1961-1963 - Tool and Die Maker at Boeing
1962-1964 - Led Jazz Souls
1963-1965 - Precision Machinist at Continental Can Company
1963 - Enrolled at UW to study math and computer programming
1963 (Mar 24) - Married Frances Aikens (Basselle on certificate) (Frances had 3 children from a previous relationship)
1964 - Completed 8 week course in Fortran Programming at UW
1965 (Apr) - Worked as mechanical technician at UW
1965 - Led Equinox
1965 (Sep 28 - Oct 2) - Sat in with Coltrane at Penthouse, recorded Om
1967-1969 - Computer Programmer/Engineering Assistant in Applied Physics Laboratory at UW
1967-1968 - Instructor at Seattle Community College
1968 - Instructor at Washington Junior High
1968-1969 - Instructor at Garfield High
1968 - Developed UW black music curriculum proposal with Byron Pope
1969 – Pope quits, Brazil asked to teach UW history of jazz class to 100 students
1971 - Black Academy of Music incorporated
1972 – Promoted to assistant professor of music at UW
1974 (Oct) - Tenure denied by UW School of Music
1974-1977 - Studied Business Administration, Management/Statistics at Western WA State University
1976 (Jun) - UW employment terminated
1976 - BAM recognition award from Carl Gustaf XVI, King of Sweden
1976-1979 - Teacher in Seattle Public Schools
1978 - Black Academy of Music changed name to Brazil Academy of Music
1978 (Mar 31) - Speaks on Education Panel at 7th Annual Black Musicians Conference at Amherst College with Vishnu Wood, Reggie Workman, Stanley Crouch.
1979-1983 - Tool and Die Maker at Kenworth Truck Company
1984-1992 - Computer Information Consultant at WA State Employment Security Dept.
1989 (Oct 3) - Interviewed by Paul de Barros for Jackson Street After Hours
2001 - Heart attack on his birthday
2002 (Sep 24) - Divorced Frances Aikens
2003 (Feb 14) - Married Virginia Carter
2007 - Elder of Distinction during Black History month
2008 (Aug 6) - Died Tacoma, WA