Folk singer/songwriter Greg Brown takes pride in his small town Iowa roots. In fact, much of the material off his 11 records came from his experiences growing up in Southern Iowa as the son of a preacher and an electric guitar player (his mom was the guitarist).

Brown also happens to be blessed with a rich, baritone voice which serves as a perfect compliment to his lyrics of loneliness, bitter disillusionment, anguish and remorse.

“I’m from small town Iowa, and that’s what I sound like,” Brown told the Twin Cities Reader a year ago. Now the folk legend is touring clubs around the nation in support of his recent live record The Live One.

Brown’ s singing career didn’t begin in Iowa, but rather New York City, where he played opening slots at the legendary Gerdes Folk City. He moved soon afterwards to Los Angeles where he wrote music for the Platters’ founder Buck Ram.

His debut record, The Iowa Waltz, was released in 1983. Brown founded Red House Records around the same time and has gone on to release all 11 of his discs on the label.

In 1989, Brown was awarded a National Association of Independent Record Distributors Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year with his One Big Town record. Rolling Stone gave the record a three and one-half star rating.

Friend of Mine, his 1993 release with Bill Morrissey, earned Brown his first Grammy nomination, increasing his fan base even more.

The Poet Game of 1994 was labeled Brown’s best recording yet, winning him his second NAIRD award, this time for singer songwriter of the year.

Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter are just some of the singers who have discovered Brown’s ability. They are among a list of many that have recorded Brown songs.

Brown exports his musical blend of rock, gospel, blues and jazz tonight at the M-Shop. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows are $10, $8 for students.