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James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, dies

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Oz, Dec 25, 2006.

  1. Claws for Concern

    Claws for Concern Active Member

    JB had several brushes with the law -- remember that infamous Smoking Gun photo of him? -- but there's an AP story out today that his last wife has been barred from their home because of an estate matter. She apparently was still married to another man when they married, thus making their marriage null and void. The two had a kid together. She's pleading to remain in the home, but the handler of his estate is saying no right now.

    It's always ugly when one person dies, especially a famous person. It's times like this when one should already have their paperwork in order.
     
  2. Bubbler

    Bubbler Well-Known Member

    Couldn't post on this because I was out of town, but this -- and Boots' post -- captures it well.

    James Brown's influence on popular music is akin to that of the Beatles ... seriously ... it's just that few white people recognize it.

    -- He was one of the earliest popular soul artists, charting from the mid 50s onward, influencing much of both the soul and rock that came later.
    -- He was one of the first artists of any ethnic group to take creative control of his career, influencing artists both black and white.
    -- He essentially created funk, especially with the "on the 1" beat that is the trademark of his post-Flames songs. His recordings from about 1964-70 are WELL ahead of the curve in terms of innovation, he is to soul as the Beatles were to rock. He worked with many soul and rock innovators of his time.
    -- His stage persona is probably the most influential of all-time in terms of popular music.
    -- At his peak in the late 60s, he was viewed in as influential a light as MLK in terms of being a unifying figure for blacks, and certainly far more unifying than Ali -- who is often mentioned as a quasi-contemporary of Brown.
    -- Best of all, he probably has at least 20 songs that just knock you on your ass in terms of quality. And though he was sometimes accused of being sound alike, he was versatile. The same artist made Please, Please, Please, This Is A Man's World, Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud, Hot Pants, King Heroin, Get Offa That Thing and Living In America -- all almost completely different styles he adapted to with ease.

    My favorite song? Extremely hard to choose, but I'd go with There It Is -- which XM's soul station concluded their James Brown tribute with today (after an awesome version of This Is A Man's World from the Apollo).

    A very respectful RIP to the Godfather Of Soul -- truly one of the greats.
     
  3. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    Anyone remember the techno song "James Brown Is Dead?" Came out in 1991 or so. You couldn't go anywhere in Germany without hearing it and it was a big club hit here.
     
  4. ...and he sang almost as well as Otis Redding did.
    RIP to the Godfather.
     
  5. Herbert Anchovy

    Herbert Anchovy Active Member

    The best story I've heard is that once, with a gun pointed at him in Augusta, responded to the cracker, "Hey, I'm James Brown, the Godfather of Soul." Stopped riots after the King assassination. What more is there to say.

    Oh yeah, he did stump for Nixon.
     
  6. Huggy

    Huggy Well-Known Member

    JB was skedded to play two shows at Casino Rama, a couple of hours north of Toronto, next week. His show there in January was picked as the best concert of the year in Toronto by the Toronto Sun.
     
  7. boots

    boots New Member

    LJB, James Brown was truly THE GODFATHER OF SOUL. Check out the song "Funky President."
     
  8. Armchair_QB

    Armchair_QB Well-Known Member

    No shit?
     
  9. zeke12

    zeke12 Guest

    Git on up, JB.

    RIP.
     
  10. boots

    boots New Member

    NEWSFLASH
    The Godfather is scheduled to make a final appearance at the famed Apollo Theater on Friday. No doubt it will be before a standing room only crowd. No word yet on tickets but word is that entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
     
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