The Godfather of Soul Dies on Christmas Day

On 2004-02-24 11:05, tiki mick wrote:
Funk inspires me, and lifts me up if I am depressed..just like Hawaiian music does..Of course, I am not talking about any old funk, but the best Funk..Slave, Rick James, EWF, James Brown, Cameo, P-Funkadelic, The BarKays, and of course, Chic!!

Sadly, Funk now will have to find a way to continue without the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

"James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.

Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.

Copsidas said Brown's family was being notified of his death and that the cause was still uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said.

Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style.

If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.

"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."

His hit singles include such classics as "Out of Sight," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Out Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.

"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black," Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society."

He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (best R&B recording) and for "Living In America" in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/25/james.brown.obit.ap/index.html

[ Edited by: christiki295 2006-12-25 00:27 ]

Another great one leaves us for the great jam session in the sky.

I was blessed with the opportunity to mix a show for James Brown in 1999 in a 14,000 seat venue (Saratoga Jazz Festival).

Twenty-nine musicians, fifteen minutes to prepare, no soundcheck.

Best gig I ever had.

In the spirit of the day...The Lord giveth, and The Lord taketh away. R.I.P. J.B. You blew our minds and gave us the groove that made our booties move.

Just heard this about an hour ago. Can't believe it. I just saw him perform in September and twice before that in that last 3 years. They way he looked a few months ago it looked like the guy was going to live forever. I don't know why, but it sort of makes sense that he left us on Christmas. What other day would be better for him? Dean Martin died on Christmas too. Anyway thank you James Brown.

First Hale Tiki

Now James Brown !!!

WTF? is Augusta gonna do????

As an Augusta native and musician, it's a bad blow. He was always around. The one time I met him face to face he was a funny, gracious guy. "Mr. Brown". You'll be missed, Godfather.

I find it truly great that all of the flags in public places are flying at half mast in honor of the great James Brown. I love this country!

On 2006-12-31 20:11, Hakalugi wrote:
I find it truly great that all of the flags in public places are flying at half mast in honor of the great James Brown. I love this country!

I also think it's cool that after two public viewings of JBs body in New York at The Apollo and in Augusta, GA, they now have his body lying in state in the capitol rotunda in D.C. and 'W' and his wife visited it today! I guess he's not as bad as they make him out to be after all.