James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul’

Early Monday morning on Christmas 2006, the music world lost one of the greatest influences it has ever been fortunate enough to see. James Brown died at Atlanta’s Emory Crawford Long Hostpital of congestive heart failure due to pneumonia, saying “I’m going away tonight.” Brown was 73.

Brown - known vastly as “the Godfather of Soul,” “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “Soul Brotha Number One,” and “Mr. Dynamite” - was known for his electric on stage presence and show stopping performances. His traditional show closing, drop to his knees and wail, is indelible.

Brown who worked the “chitlin circuit” in his early days with the Famous Flames (renamed the J.B.’s later), finally made the crossover from Gospel R&B to pop culture with his “Live at the Apollo” in 1963 (one of the greatest live albums ever recorded).

To this day J.B. has a resounding, deep, rich and linguring influence on music today. He set the blueprint for funk, disco and hip-hop. In an interview in 2003, Brown always confident and aware of his accomplishments said this, “Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I’m saying? You hear all the rappers, 90 percent of their music is me.”

James Brown is and always will be the toughest act to follow.

May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006
May you finally rest, and rest in peace.