 Brown played congas, bongos, the gourd and claves for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band.One of his musical influences was Chano Pozo.Among Brown's best-known performances on Motown recordings include "(I Know) I'm Losing You" by The Temptations, "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and "If I Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight & the Pips.