JAMES BROWN
AKA THE GOD FATHER OF SOUL
AKA THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS
DID YOU KNOW THAT JAMES BROWN WAS ACTUALLY A STILL BORN AFTER BIRTH BUT HIS AUNTIE BREATHED LIFE INTO HIM ON MAY 3RD 1933.
MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT JAMES BROWN WAS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY LITTLE RICHARD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE EVEN WENT ON THE ROAD AND PERFORMED AS LITTLE RICHARD WHICH GAVE HIM PLENTY OF TIME TO PERFECT HIS SCREAM! YOU KNOW THE SCREAM RIGHT?….
THIS WAS BEFORE TV WAS BIG AND PEOPLE ONLY HEARD LITTLE RICHARD BUT DIDNT ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE.
LATER IN HIS SOLO CAREER..JAMES BROWN FULLY ESTABLISHED THE FUNK SOUND IN THE EARLY 70’S AND BROUGHT A PROFOUND “AFRICANIZED” APPROACH TO MUSIC AT THE PERFECT TIME WHEN WE NEEDED IT MOST.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT JAMES BROWN THE MOST IS HIS ENCORE. TOWARDS THE END OF HIS SHOW, HE’D DROP DOWN TO HIS KNEES WHILE GRIPPING THE MIC AND HIS MC WOULD COME OUT AND DRAPE A CAPE OVER HIM AND ESCORT HIM OFF THE STAGE. BUT BEFORE HE’D MAKE IT OFF, JB WOULD SHAKE THE CAPE OFF AND PERFORM HIS ENCORE. THAT ALONG WITH THE PROCESSED HAIR, DANCE MOVES, AND LIVE BAND CREATED THE BEST SHOW AND LEFT THE AUDIENCE FEELING LIKE THEY GOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY CAME FOR. WHICH WAS BROWNS GOAL ALL ALONG!
