Remembering The GodFather Of Soul [VIDEO]
Today, James Brown would have turned 81. He was called the God Father of Soul, Soul Brother #1 and Mr Dynamite and was born in Barnwell, South Carolina. His career spanned well over six decades. After a run in with the law, Brown was paroled and joined a gospel group while working odd jobs. He later joined The Famous Flames and recorded the song “Please, Please, Please,” the group’s first R&B hit, selling over a million copies.
After the Famous Flames disbanded Brown and Famous Flames singer Bobby Byrd recruited several members of the Cincinnati-based The Pacemakers, which included Bootsy Collins and his brother Phelps “Catfish” Collins.
James Brown gave us great hits like, Cold Sweat, Pappa’s got A Brand New Bag, Hotpants, Get Up Offa That Thing” to name a few.
He was known for the infamous cape routine, where Brown would drop to his knees while holding onto the microphone stand, the show’s MC would come out, drape a cape over Brown’s shoulders and escort him off the stage after performing. He truly was the hardest working man in show business.
Throughout his career he influenced musicians in many genres, to include groups like Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band,The Rolling Stones, Booker T. & the M.G.’s as well as vocalists such as Edwin Starr, David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards from The Temptations and the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson.
On December 25, 2006, Brown died from congestive heart failure resulting from complications of pneumonia at age 73.
Happy Birthday JB
