James Brown given to god on Christmas Day
The
biggest influence in R&B music died on
Christmas Day 2006 at the age of 73. Just like
Otis Redding he was a poor boy from Georgia
who grew up in the hard times. Like thousands
of other young Negros
in the 30s and 40s, he shined shoes, picked
cotton and dodged the law.
He
served time for car theft and on his release,
joined a band as a drummer. Bobby Byrd headed
the band, but it wasn’t
long before James Brown fronted the band that
called itself, "The Flames".
His
rasping voice and slick dance moves set the
foundations for the greatest ever R&B
legend.
The
Flames had a million selling single in 1956,
with Please Please Please. James Brown's reputation
began to spread and he started to perform all
over the world. He wrote, produced and was
responsible for most of the clever arrangements,
which made his music `Must Dance` material.
He
introduced funk to the world with his ever-popular
downbeat sound, which was so different to traditional
musical arrangements.
James
Brown was known as wild, loud, exciting and
unpredictable! He was a magnet for the youth
of generations, past and present.
He
would whip up such a storm on stage that his
energy and passion were transferred to every
member of his audience who would be “in
a cold sweat”.
When seeing him in London, it would take three
days for us young funksters to get over his
masterful performance!
We
would try to mimic his dance routines that
consisted of high-powered shuffles, knee drops
and splits.
It
wasn’t just us
working class kids who were being influenced
by the man. Mick Jagger in the 60s and Michael
Jackson in the 70s, were all trying to enhance
their stage show with the James Brown style.
It
was said “he runs
his band with military precision” and when
you think Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and Bootsy
Collins all played for him, the best was only
good enough for James Brown.
Sometimes,
when the disco was going flat at the “Old
California Ballroom” the DJ would select
a James Brown track and immediately new life
was pumped back into the dance floor.
On January 17th 1976 James
Brown made his one and only performance at The
California Ballroom!
It
was a Monday night and he kept the crowd waiting
two hours. It wasn’t
the best performance, I have seen him do, but
he still kept the packed house moving for 75
minutes.
He
commanded such respect from his people, that
after the death of Martin Luther King, his
Boston audience heeded his call for calm while
cities up and down the U.S were in disarray.
His anthem, “ Say It Loud
I’m Black and Proud” gave black people
a new identity.
His
style was the platform for the Hip Hop generation
and his presence can be felt in all
styles of music throughout the world!
Manufacturing hit after
hit; I feel Good, Sex Machine, Say It Loud, Make
It Funky, Get On The Good Foot. Over 5 decades,
the list is endless.
The
Godfather Of Soul is laid to rest but one thing
is sure - his music never will be.
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