Jason Browning, the tour manager for Matchbox Twenty, died suddenly on Dec. 26. Browning also served as tour manager for Rob Thomas.
Browning, the CEO and founder of The Browning Group, was 46 years old when he died of unknown cause. Details about his death and internment remain undisclosed.
Thomas, the former lead singer for Matchbox Twenty, has released a tribute. He looked back at his manager's life and revealed how he started out working for the music industry.
Browning, who hailed from Columbus, Ohio, used to work security for various artists. He started out working for the Hanson brothers and for Marilyn Manson. He used to say that he could work from "Hanson to Manson."
This is how he met Matchbox Twenty. For years, he did security for the group. Eventually, he worked his way up to be their tour manager. He also became Thomas' day-to-day manager. His company also worked with various artists including Linkin Park and Carlos Santana. Browning also became the manager for Stone Temple Pilots.
In his tribute to his late manager, Thomas also recalled how Browning lived his life. He lived to make people laugh and to help those who are in need. He described Browning as a "bright light with a dark sense of humor." Thomas said that he was always five moves ahead of anyone in any situation. Browning was very good at impersonating Axl Rose.
"He would do anything for his friends and had no time for anyone who crossed them. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh. He was perfectly imperfect and always, always trying to improve. If a man can be measured by the amount of people he leaves behind who will think about him, then he was a giant. To say he will be missed doesn't come close," Thomas wrote on his Facebook page.
Thomas initially broke the news about Browning's death on Dec. 27. He thanked the "giant walking and talking heart" for the 19 years that he and his wife, Mari, spent discovering life with him. He also expressed his sorrow at his passing and said that everyone in his circle is "completely numb."
The official website of The Browning Group asked that instead of flowers, donations can be made in Browning's honor to the Sidewalk Angels Foundation — an animal organization close to his heart.
"Jason's legacy will live on through all that he's mentored and trained up in the industry. We couldn't be prouder to have called him a friend,"Jessicha Suchter of The Browning Group told Pollstar.
Browning is survived by his sister, his son, and his parents.
