Brown
Real Name:
James Joe Brown, Jr.
Profile:
James Brown was raised in poverty in Augusta, Georgia.
In 1953 James Brown joined the Gospel Starlighters, a vocal quartet led by Bobby Byrd, after completing a four-year stint in prison for robbery. As Brown became the focal point of the act, the group changed its name to 'The Famous Flames' and its focus from gospel to R&B. In 1955 The Famous Flames record "Please Please Please" at the studio of WIBB in Macon, Georgia. In 1958 James Brown's first #1 hit, 'Try Me,' is released. It was the best-selling R&B single of 1958, and the first of 17 chart-topping R&B singles by Brown over the next two decades.
1965: James Brown records "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," a revolutionary single that ushers in a whole new era of soul music. Released that summer, it tops the R&B chart for eight weeks and even cracks the pop Top Ten.
1971: James Brown signed with Polydor Records, for which he recorded extensively throughout the decade. 1974: The Payback, the most successful of James Brown's Seventies albums—many of which were double-LPs with lengthy, extended tracks—makes its debut on Billboard's album chart. It is the only gold-certified (500,000 copies sold) album of his career.
1984: Bronx rapper Afrika Bambaataa teams up with James Brown to record the anthemic single "Unity." 1986: "Living in America," the theme song from Rocky IV, reaches #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, becoming James Brown's biggest pop hit since "I Got You (I Feel Good)" went to #3 in 1965.
1992: James Brown receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th annual Grammy Awards.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia and died on Christmas day 2006.
In 1953 James Brown joined the Gospel Starlighters, a vocal quartet led by Bobby Byrd, after completing a four-year stint in prison for robbery. As Brown became the focal point of the act, the group changed its name to 'The Famous Flames' and its focus from gospel to R&B. In 1955 The Famous Flames record "Please Please Please" at the studio of WIBB in Macon, Georgia. In 1958 James Brown's first #1 hit, 'Try Me,' is released. It was the best-selling R&B single of 1958, and the first of 17 chart-topping R&B singles by Brown over the next two decades.
1965: James Brown records "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," a revolutionary single that ushers in a whole new era of soul music. Released that summer, it tops the R&B chart for eight weeks and even cracks the pop Top Ten.
1971: James Brown signed with Polydor Records, for which he recorded extensively throughout the decade. 1974: The Payback, the most successful of James Brown's Seventies albums—many of which were double-LPs with lengthy, extended tracks—makes its debut on Billboard's album chart. It is the only gold-certified (500,000 copies sold) album of his career.
1984: Bronx rapper Afrika Bambaataa teams up with James Brown to record the anthemic single "Unity." 1986: "Living in America," the theme song from Rocky IV, reaches #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, becoming James Brown's biggest pop hit since "I Got You (I Feel Good)" went to #3 in 1965.
1992: James Brown receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th annual Grammy Awards.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia and died on Christmas day 2006.
Sites:
Aliases:
In Groups:
First Family, The, Fred Wesley & The JB's, Friends Of Earth, J.B.'s, The, James Brown & The Famous Flames, James Brown And The Dapps, James Brown Band, The, James Brown Dancers, The, James Brown Orchestra, The, James Brown Soul Train, The, James Davis (9), Last Word, The, Nat Kendrick & The Swans, Poets, The (5)
Variations:
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James Brown
| B. Brown
| Brown
| Brown James
| Ellis
| Godfather Of Soul James Brown
| Godfather Of Soul James Brown, The
| J Brown
| J. Brown
| J.Brown
| James Brown At The Organ
| James Who ?
| James Who?
| JB
| Joe Brown
| Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk
| Mr. James Brown
| S. Brown
| Wright
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Reviews & Discussion
James Brown = One of the funkiest artists ever to come out ever, ever!
He was just too good. He putted 99.9% of virtually all music to shame, because he was a pioneer, and totally original. He created Funk all the way back in the mid-60's and his dancing was unbelievable, only to be copied by people like Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones. He is also the #1 most sampled artist of all time, and virtually every genre (especially Golden Age Hip-Hop) has incorporated him in some way or another.
One of my regrets is not seeing this guy live. He would have been incredible but still, there is always Live at the Apollo or Revelation of the Mind out there, or some DVD if you want to see what he was like.
RIP James Brown 1933-2006
PS: No James Brown = No Hip-Hop, Breakbeat, House, Disco, Funk, Modern Pop, and just Modern Music in general.
He was just too good. He putted 99.9% of virtually all music to shame, because he was a pioneer, and totally original. He created Funk all the way back in the mid-60's and his dancing was unbelievable, only to be copied by people like Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones. He is also the #1 most sampled artist of all time, and virtually every genre (especially Golden Age Hip-Hop) has incorporated him in some way or another.
One of my regrets is not seeing this guy live. He would have been incredible but still, there is always Live at the Apollo or Revelation of the Mind out there, or some DVD if you want to see what he was like.
RIP James Brown 1933-2006
PS: No James Brown = No Hip-Hop, Breakbeat, House, Disco, Funk, Modern Pop, and just Modern Music in general.
James Brown died yesterday. For a moment, the melody of L.A. Style's "James Brown Is Dead" floated in my mind (they released it 15 years ago, when the man was very much alive). On the news, they talked about the "godfather of soul" without mentioning that he was also one of the greatest funk figures of all times ("I Feel Good", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and "Sex Machine" are all good examples). I am sure we will remember his unforgettable dance steps for a very long time. One last time: "Hit Me!". Rest in peace Mr. Brown!
To leave a comment on somebody like James Brown might seem useless and probably it is but this is more a desperate attempt to show my love for his music. As one of the most influential African-American performer ever, James Brown laid a foundation for the Funky/Soul groove that earned him the nicknames - The Godfather Of Soul, Hardest Working Man In Show Biz, Mr. Dynamite, and Soul Brother Number One! EVERYBODY knows his hits and they will make any party rock, even with the stiffest crowed, always a sure shot! Have recorded a ridicules amount of records, not all good but MANY are timeless holy masterpieces and simply astonishing. Had 114 total entries on Billboard's R&B singles charts, 17 reached number one and is also the most sampled man of the show business. He is about so much more then his "Best Of" compilation so go out and buy his classic albums and get FUNKY with the SOUL POWER! Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award is not enough to express what "The Godfather Of Soul" have done for the world of music.
You can not tell what the music industry would be sounding like without his presence and effort. He influenced thousands of other producers and music enthustiast around the world and artist from the end of 60's to present has been trying to copy him, immitate him and offcourse, many has sample his music.
To me, the Godfather of Soul has given me all, if not everything to gain my love of music even higher, and appreciate the right music alot more.
But i can't really say much more that has been allready said about a man that has lived a fantastic life. To dive in to his extensive musical output has been a marveling memorial experience and i will collect his music as far as i can.
I advise people to give 'Mr.Dynamite' a last word and honor, because one of the greatest and ifluential artist of the time has left us and to be honest, the world for me does not quite feel the same without him.
I give Brown my upmost respect. Rest in peace and thanks for everything.