James+Brown

[|James Brown] was a man who was ahead of his time when it came to music and entertain and made career that lasted over several decades. He has been known as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Man in Show Business" just to name a few names he has went by.

Born May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina Brown was named after his father Joseph ("Joe") Garner Brown but since there was a mix-up during the birth registration, he was named James Joseph Brown, Jr. His family would call him Junior or Little Junior. At the age of 4 his parents separated and Brown lived with his father until the age of 6 when they moved to Augusta, Georgia and his father sent him to live with an aunt who ran a house of prostitution. Brown managed to stay in school all the way to the 7th grade when he dropped out.

After dropping out from school Brown earned money by doing odd jobs like selling and trading stamps as well as making money singing in talent contests. He also performed buck dances to entertain troops from Camp Gordan during the start of World War II. Later in his childhood he learn how to play the harmonica, the guitar, the piano, and the drums. At the age of 16 Brown was arrest for armed robbery and was sent to a juvnile dentention center where he met [|Bobby Byrd] who admired his singing and performing.With the help of Byrd's family Brown got an early release after 3 years but the catch was that brown would have to get a job and not to return to Augusta or Richmond county. After trying boxing and baseball Brown decided to do music. Brown's career started with a group called "The Gospel Starlighters". He eventually joined Byrd's group which was originally called the Avons but they were better known as the Flames. They toured all around the "Chitlin Circuit" before they signed with Federal Records which was part of King Records. There first recording was "Please, Please, Please" which is still a favorite today even though it was #5 on the R&B charts. Later on Brown was able to tour with Rock & Roll legend [|Little Richard]. After Little Richard decided to leave music to become a peacher, Brown filled the bill for all performances. Little Richard After the tour James Brown and the Famous Flames recorded the #1 hit "Try Me" which was the very first of Browns many #1 hits over the decades of his career.Brown would continue to make hits during the 1960s like "I Got You (I Feel Good)" & "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" which he won Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording but Brown was most famous for his unforgetable performance at the famous Apollo theater.

During the 70s James Brown's music became the music of black america. Hits like "Say It Loud, I'm Black" made blacks proud to be what they are. Other hits like " Funky President(People Its Bad)", "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" & "The Payback" help "Funk" music for millions to listen to and to create Funk Legends like Boosty Collins (who started with James Brown's Band on his tours) & George Clinton. James Brown & Bootsy Collins During the 80s most of the early hip-hop records were has samples of James Brown's music including the legendary hit from the group Public Enemy, "Fight The Power". Also, James did a record with Hip-Hop Legend Afrika Bambaataa called "Unity". James Brown's music helped inspire a whole Hip-Hop revolution in the 80s from all the great hits he did in the 70s.

Later in the years James would continue to tour all around the world performing all his hits from the 60s and 70s for many years to come and in the process inspire generation of entertainers in music like Bobby Brown, Usher, Chris Brown,& The King Of Pop, Micheal Jackson. Then, on December 25, 2006 when the one of greatest entertainers passed away. Brown had died from congestive heart failure. Brown had a public and private memorial service which was officiated by Rev. Al Sharpton. Fans around the world celebrities and regular people all continue to miss James Brown.