The Godfather has Left the Building
Sorry to say, sad to say, regrettable to say, but the verifiably coolest, soulfulest and dancingest man alive has passed away this Christmas morn my brothers and sisters. The late Great James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, passed away in a hospital this morning. For those of you still trying to figure out my musical orientation just know that James Brown is one of the greatest musuicians and performers to ever live and their never EVER will be another. From his lowly beginnings to superstasrdom, to pioneering genres such as soul, funk, and rap, as well as popularizing breakdancing, many peaople owe much love and respect to this legend, this icon, the man who could have everyone dancing before he even said "Hot Pants!"
Below is a flash player with some files I could find online of some of the King of Soul's best work. Many of his videos are also posted on YouTube. I've also posted a video compilation done to "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" with a legendary James Brown Song, as well as some excellent footwork footage that really shows you why this man is a legend.
From Bloomberg.com:
James Brown, `Godfather of Soul' and Musical Icon, Dies at 73
By Linda Sandler and Amy Thomson
Dec. 25 (Bloomberg) -- James Brown, the rhythm-and-blues singer known as the ``Godfather of Soul,'' died this morning at an Atlanta hospital of congestive heart failure as a result of pneumonia, his agency Intrigue Music said today. He was 73.
Brown, also called the ``hardest working man in show business,'' performed more than 100 live shows a year, his agency said on its Web site. He had five shows scheduled this week at the Palace Theater in Connecticut, the Bergen Performing Arts Center and the Count Basie Theatre in New Jersey and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York.
Brown died at 1:45 a.m. today at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Intrigue Music said.
Born in South Carolina during the Great Depression, Brown influenced the direction of music in the 1960s with a fusion of gospel and rhythm and blues. He had 114 entries on Billboard's R&B singles charts and 17 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 singles charts, his Web site said. His first Top 10 pop single was the 1965 ``Papa's Got a Brand New Bag.''
He received a lifetime achievement Grammy Award in 1992 and was an original inductee into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
He picked cotton and shined shoes as a child and danced for spare change, the Web site said. Sent to reform school at 16, he met Bobby Byrd, a gospel group leader who gave Brown his start. Their Toccoa, Georgia-based band, called the Flames, switched from gospel to blues after hearing blues greats Hank Ballard and Fats Domino play, according to the Web site.
Mr. Dynamite
James Brown's career was crowned with plenty of nicknames. He was ``Mr. Dynamite'', ``the Forefather of Hip-Hop,'' the ``Funky President'' and ``Soul Brother Number One.''
He was also ``Mr. Star Time'', after his ``star time'' spot on the ``Live At The Apollo'' albums. Brown put up his own money to record a 1962 performance, which hit No. 2 on Billboard's album chart and introduced his spins, drops and faked heart attacks to a broader audience.
Over the next few years the singer developed his shouted- vocal and heavy rhythmical style which resulted in 1960s hits such as ``Night Train,'' ``I Got You (I Feel Good),'' ``Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)'' and ``It's a Man's Man's Man's World.''
To contact the reporters on this story: Linda Sandler in London at lsandler@bloomberg.net ; Amy Thomson in New York at athomson6@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: December 25, 2006 10:52 EST
Below is a flash player with some files I could find online of some of the King of Soul's best work. Many of his videos are also posted on YouTube. I've also posted a video compilation done to "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" with a legendary James Brown Song, as well as some excellent footwork footage that really shows you why this man is a legend.
From Bloomberg.com:
James Brown, `Godfather of Soul' and Musical Icon, Dies at 73
By Linda Sandler and Amy Thomson
Dec. 25 (Bloomberg) -- James Brown, the rhythm-and-blues singer known as the ``Godfather of Soul,'' died this morning at an Atlanta hospital of congestive heart failure as a result of pneumonia, his agency Intrigue Music said today. He was 73.
Brown, also called the ``hardest working man in show business,'' performed more than 100 live shows a year, his agency said on its Web site. He had five shows scheduled this week at the Palace Theater in Connecticut, the Bergen Performing Arts Center and the Count Basie Theatre in New Jersey and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York.
Brown died at 1:45 a.m. today at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Intrigue Music said.
Born in South Carolina during the Great Depression, Brown influenced the direction of music in the 1960s with a fusion of gospel and rhythm and blues. He had 114 entries on Billboard's R&B singles charts and 17 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 singles charts, his Web site said. His first Top 10 pop single was the 1965 ``Papa's Got a Brand New Bag.''
He received a lifetime achievement Grammy Award in 1992 and was an original inductee into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
He picked cotton and shined shoes as a child and danced for spare change, the Web site said. Sent to reform school at 16, he met Bobby Byrd, a gospel group leader who gave Brown his start. Their Toccoa, Georgia-based band, called the Flames, switched from gospel to blues after hearing blues greats Hank Ballard and Fats Domino play, according to the Web site.
Mr. Dynamite
James Brown's career was crowned with plenty of nicknames. He was ``Mr. Dynamite'', ``the Forefather of Hip-Hop,'' the ``Funky President'' and ``Soul Brother Number One.''
He was also ``Mr. Star Time'', after his ``star time'' spot on the ``Live At The Apollo'' albums. Brown put up his own money to record a 1962 performance, which hit No. 2 on Billboard's album chart and introduced his spins, drops and faked heart attacks to a broader audience.
Over the next few years the singer developed his shouted- vocal and heavy rhythmical style which resulted in 1960s hits such as ``Night Train,'' ``I Got You (I Feel Good),'' ``Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)'' and ``It's a Man's Man's Man's World.''
To contact the reporters on this story: Linda Sandler in London at lsandler@bloomberg.net ; Amy Thomson in New York at athomson6@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: December 25, 2006 10:52 EST
posted by Nick M. at 11:29 AM
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