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“The Godfather of Soul”, otherwise known as James Brown, is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the evolution of soul, gospel, R&B, and funk music. His outrageous behavior, thrilling performances, and unique musical sound have made him one of the most acclaimed entertainers of all time.

James Joseph Brown Jr. was born in Barnwell, South Carolina on May 3, 1933. His family moved to Augusta, Georgia where the young Brown would help support his family by picking cotton and shining shoes. At the age of sixteen, James was arrested and sent to a ju Continued...

venile detention center for armed robbery. There he met Bobby Byrd, a singer, whose family helped him gain an early release from his sentence. Following his discharge, he took an interest in sports first becoming a boxer and later a baseball pitcher. A leg injury led him to pursue a music career instead.

While Brown was performing in a gospel group named “The Gospel Starlighters”, his new friend Bobby Byrd played in a band name the Avons. James eventually joined the band that became known as The Famous Flames. During a tour of the Southern United States, the band was noticed by King Records and eventually signed to their label. The group soon released their first single “Please, Please, Please” in 1956 under the name James Brown with the Famous Flames. The song peaked at number five on the R&B charts and sold one million copies. Unfortunately, their nine singles that followed failed to succeed and King Records was considering dropping the band. However, in 1958 they released “Try Me” which became a smash hit occupying the number one spot on the R&B charts and peaking at number fifty on the US Pop Top 100. Subsequent to this event, Brown began to assume priority and control of the group, as The Famous Flames would become his backup.

During the 1960s, Brown introduced new and different flavors to his music by incorporating Latin and jazz. He produced several R&B hits notably “Good Good Lovin’”, “I’ll Go Crazy”, “Think”, and “Night Train”. In 1963, Brown experienced a major breakthrough with the release of Live at the Apollo reaching the number two spot on the charts. In 1965, singles “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)” introduced Brown’s signature funk sound, both becoming successful number one R&B hits and both placing in the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100. These songs triggered a continuous streak of hits throughout the late 1960s. As his funk sound became more prominent in songs like “Funky Drummer” and “I Got the Feeling”, his socio-political views and opinions began to become evident in his lyrics. Songs “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I’ll Get it Myself) advocated his black pride and alienated his white audience causing them to eventually lose interest in his music.

In the 1970s, Brown and Byrd welcomed new members Bootsy Collins and Phelps “Catfish” Collins to the group after the departure of the others. Bootsy and Collins contributed to Brown’s heavier funk beat and later departed to form Parliament. Under the new name, The JBs, they released the hit single “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine”. Most of the previous members returned and the band continued to perform as The JB’s. Towards the mid to late 70s Brown’s music often began to repeat itself, releasing similar sounding tracks, however notable hits during this period include “The Payback”, “Papa Don’t Take No Mess”, “Stoned To The Bone”. “Funky President (People It’s Bad)”, and “Get Up Offa That Thing”. Legal and financial impediments took the best of Brown during the 1980s following a sudden resurgence of his fame. In 1988 he was arrested after a high speed car chase in which he threatened pedestrians with firearms. He was sentenced to prison for six years yet managed to serve three and was released in 1991. Since the offense, he has continued to release music and perform concerts around the world. In 1991, he released Star Time, a box set which features most of his hits. It was ranked number 79 on the List of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. His most recent album The Next Step was issued in 2002.