James Brown - The GodFather and Originator of Funk Passes Away

James Brown - The GodFather of Soul and Originator of Funk Passes Away

The man, myth and legend of TRUE Funk, Soul & R&B passed away on December 25th in the very early hours. It is truly a sad day for all of us who loved his voice, style, music, showmanship, dance, attitude, heritage and down-right black man personna to hear about the passing of James Brown! Born in Barnwell, S.C. in 1933, the HARDEST WORKIN' MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS - James Brown had a tough upbringing but despite such tough times, he propelled his life situation into the music industry by being tenacious in sharing his world through his music.

In 1940, Mr. Brown moved with his father to Augusta, Georgia where he grew up and learned how to play keyboards and guitar at his aunt's brothel. Several years later, Mr. Brown teamed with singer Bobby Byrd's Ever Ready Gospel Singers, which soon evolved into the R&B group the Flames (later the Famous Flames) in 1953. They were signed to King Records in 1956 and scored an immediate R&B hit with the pleading Please, Please, Please.

Further R&B hits and constant tours on the R&B (specifically African American) concert circuit followed, and gradually he made inroads into the pop market with such hits as 1962's Night Train and pop ballad Prisoner of Love in 1963.

They year also saw the release of Live at the Apollo, one of the first massively successful live albums in any musical genre and a landmark recording that captured the inimitable intensity and legendary stop-on-a-dime musical precision of a James Brown show!

After the live show and other successful early hits, Mr. James Brown took his music style to a new level that NO ONE COULD TOUCH!!

His hits include the following:

• Please, Please, Please (1956)
• Night Train (1961)
• Out of Sight (1964)
• Papa's Got a Brand New Bag/I Got You (I Feel Good) (1965)
• It's a Man's Man's Man's World (1966)
• Cold Sweat (1967)
• Say It Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud (1968)
• I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (1969)
• Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like a Sex Machine (1970)
• Super Bad (1970)
• The Payback (1973)
• Bodyheat (1976)
• Living in America (1985)
• I'm Real (1988) - teams with Full Force
• They Don't Want Music (2005) - teams with The Black Eyed Peas

Personally, I saw Mr. James Brown when I was 9 or 10 at one of his classic concerts in Cincinnati with my cousins and aunts! It was my first concert and the BEST CONCERT THAT I EVER ATTENDED!! I remember all of us had fun and I remember how James Brown performed on stage doing the camel walk, the dance "popcorn" and throwing off the cap!! Talk about production and showmanship, Mr. James Brown did it all!! After that concert, I was a dedicated fan and admirer of Mr. James Brown. One song that I specifically remember and proud to have sang along with all the concert goers was -- SAY IT LOUD, I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!! That became a national anthem for all of us in the community!! If you know what I mean!!

That's why I have continued to do all of my BACK IN THE GROOVE PRODUCTIONS with Mr. James Brown apart of them in some form or fashion. He is the creator of FUNK and that's what I will continue to bring with my productions!!

THANKS MR. JAMES BROWN FOR GIVING US REAL FUNK, SOUL & R&B!!