James Brown’s Music Won’t Be Silenced

James Brown was known as “The Godfather of Soul” and as “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.” Those descriptions fell short of covering his musical influence on America and the world beyond it. Although a troubled human being, his artistry left a legacy few can imagine and fewer still rival. He died from heart failure on Christmas Day after being hospitalized for pneumonia at the age of 73. His music is immortal.

Born into bone-crushing poverty in the segregated South in 1933, his rise to stardom was unlikely at best. At 16, he was sent to prison for stealing a car, serving three years and a day out of an 8-16 year sentence. Failing as a boxer but succeeding in gospel music, he wound up performing a frenetic stage show that had him dropping 7 pounds of water-weight every night. He explained why he worked so hard 350 nights a year, “When you’re on stage, the people who paid money to get in are the boss, even if it cost them only a quarter. You’re working for them.” There are two generations of "stars" who have yet to learn that.

In 1956 he wrote “Please, Please, Please,” his first million seller. He followed it with such contemporary standards as, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine)”. And “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” summed up 1968 America. Oddly, he sang it at President Nixon’s Inauguration in 1972. His last hit “Living in America” was also his only #1 UK record.

He had his car chase and drug-induced denouement in the 1980s. He didn’t handle his family life particularly well. He had his natural eyebrows replaced with tattooed eyebrows in 1991. In short, he wasn’t all that good at life beyond music -- a sin many musicians commit, and many non-musicians for that matter.

However, as he lays in state in Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, the entire music world mourns. Afrika Bambaattaa, who dubbed the music “hip hop” said without James Brown, there wouldn’t have been any. Dan Aykroyd, whose film “The Blues Brothers” featured Mr. Brown as a Gospel singing preacher, said, “Fortunate were those of us who were able to engage his talents and witness his latest shows. The greatest on-stage revue of music in the history of our planet.”

The most fitting story, though, comes from Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. The TAMI show was a 1964 concert at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium broadcast on closed circuit TV. Hosted by Jan and Dean, it included the Rolling Stones, Mr. Brown, the Beach Boys, the Supremes, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye and more. The producers wanted to end with a big finish, after Mr. Brown performed, it was the Rolling Stones’ turn. Mr. Richards said having to follow James Brown on stage was the worst moment in his career.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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