posted on December 25, 2006 09:09:13 AM new
He'll be missed!!!!!!!!!!
ATLANTA -
James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose revolutionary rhythms, rough voice and flashing footwork influenced generations of musicians from rock to rap, died early Christmas morning. He was 73.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died of heart failure around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music.
He initially seemed fine at the hospital and even told people that he planned to be on stage in New York on New Year's Eve, Copsidas said.
Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. From Mick Jagger to
Michael Jackson, David Bowie to Public Enemy, Brown's rapid-footed dancing, hard-charging beats and heartfelt yet often unintelligible vocals changed the musical landscape. He was to rhythm and dance music what Bob Dylan was to lyrics.
"He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown," entertainer Little Richard, a longtime friend of Brown's, told MSNBC.
"James Brown changed music," said Rev.
Al Sharpton, who toured with him in the 1970s and imitates his hairstyle to this day.
"He made soul music a world music," Sharpton said. "What James Brown was to music in terms of soul and hip-hop, rap, all of that, is what Bach was to classical music. This is a guy who literally changed the music industry. He put everybody on a different beat, a different style of music. He pioneered it."
Brown's classic singles include "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.
"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black," Brown told The Associated Press in 2003. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society."
He won a Grammy for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (best R&B recording) and for "Living In America" in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with
Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.
Brown, who lived in Beech Island, S.C., near the Georgia line, triumphed despite a turbulent personal life and charges of abusing drugs and alcohol. After a widely publicized, drug-fueled confrontation with police in 1988 that ended in an interstate car chase, Brown spent more than two years in prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer.
From the 1950s, when Brown had his first R&B hit, "Please, Please, Please" in 1956, through the mid-1970s, Brown went on a frenzy of cross-country tours, concerts and new songs. He earned the nickname "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" and often tried to prove it to his fans, said Jay Ross, his lawyer of 15 years.
Brown's stage act was as memorable, and as imitated, as his records, with his twirls and spins and flowing cape, his repeated faints to the floor at the end as band members tried in vain to get him to leave the stage.
His "Live at The Apollo" in 1962 is widely considered one of the greatest concert records ever. And he often talked of the 1964 concert in which organizers made the mistake of having the Rolling Stones, not him, close the bill. He would remember a terrified Mick Jagger waiting offstage, chain smoking, as Brown pulled off his matchless show.
"To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told the AP.
Brown routinely lost two or three pounds each time he performed and kept his furious concert schedule in his later years even as he fought prostate cancer, Ross said.
With his tight pants, shimmering feet, eye makeup and outrageous hair, Brown set the stage for younger stars such as Michael Jackson and Prince. And the early rap generation overwhelmingly sampled his music and voice as they laid the foundation of hip-hop culture.
"Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I'm saying? You hear all the rappers, 90 percent of their music is me," Brown told The AP in 2003.
Born in poverty in Barnwell, S.C., in 1933, Brown was abandoned as a 4 year old to the care of relatives and friends. He grew up on the streets of Augusta, Ga., in an "ill-repute area," as he once called it, where he learned how to hustle to survive.
"I wanted to be somebody," Brown said.
By the eighth grade in 1949, Brown had served 3 1/2 years in Alto Reform School near Toccoa, Ga., for breaking into cars. While there, he met Bobby Byrd, whose family took Brown into their home. Byrd also took Brown into his group, the Gospel Starlighters. Soon they changed their name to the Famous Flames and their style to hard R&B.
In January 1956, King Records of Cincinnati signed the group, and four months later "Please, Please, Please" was in the R&B Top Ten.
Pete Allman, a radio personality in Las Vegas who had been friends with Brown for 15 years, credited Brown with jump-starting his career and motivating him personally and professionally.
"He was a very positive person. There was no question he was the hardest working man in show business," Allman said. "I remember Mr. Brown as someone who always motivated me, got me reading the Bible."
While most of Brown's life was glitz and glitter — he was the manic preacher in 1980's "The Blues Brothers" — he was plagued with charges of abusing drugs and alcohol and of hitting his third wife, Adrienne.
In September 1988, Brown, high on PCP and carrying a shotgun, entered an insurance seminar next to his Augusta office. Police said he asked seminar participants if they were using his private restroom. Police chased Brown for a half-hour from Augusta into South Carolina and back to Georgia. The chase ended when police shot out the tires of his truck.
Brown received a six-year prison sentence. He spent 15 months in a South Carolina prison and 10 months in a work release program before being paroled in February 1991. In 2003, the South Carolina parole board granted him a pardon for his crimes in that state.
Soon after his release, Brown was on stage again with an audience that included millions of cable television viewers nationwide who watched the three-hour, pay-per-view concert at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Adrienne Brown died in 1996 in Los Angeles at age 47. She took PCP and several prescription drugs while she had a bad heart and was weak from cosmetic surgery two days earlier, the coroner said.
More recently, he married his fourth wife, Tomi Raye Hynie, one of his backup singers. The couple had a son, James Jr.
Two years later, Brown spent a week in a private Columbia hospital, recovering from what his agent said was dependency on painkillers. Brown's attorney, Albert "Buddy" Dallas, said the singer was exhausted from six years of road shows.
Brown was performing to the end, and giving back to his community.
Three days before his death, he joined volunteers at his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, and he planned to perform on New Year's Eve at B.B. King Blues Club in New York.
"He was dramatic to the end — dying on Christmas Day," said the Rev.
Jesse Jackson, a friend of Brown's since 1955. "Almost a dramatic, poetic moment. He'll be all over the news all over the world today. He would have it no other way."
Brown is survived by at least four children — two daughters and sons Daryl and James Brown III, Copsidas said. Friends were making flight arrangements Monday to come to Atlanta to determine how to memorialize Brown, Copsidas said.
posted on December 26, 2006 01:37:54 PM new
He made some great music....but his personal life/character was nothing to be proud of or miss.
He was a druggie, a felon, a wife beater, even made the 'Wife Beaters Hall of Fame' - tsk tsk tsk - and had problems with the law since he was a teenager....that he never grew out of.
Not a personal life I'd find anything to be proud of or memoralize.
I will never understand how people can admire performers like this one.
They certainly don't set good examples to our young people.
posted on December 26, 2006 01:45:56 PM new
If we based our appreciation of the arts on the personal lives of the artists and excluded the works of those who we might consider less agreeable personally, we would be left with not much to admire. I can't imagine how you can live with such a loss.
posted on December 26, 2006 01:59:40 PM new
It makes me wonder how Michael Jackson will be remembered
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on December 26, 2006 02:26:29 PM new
Liar_k, George Bush had problems with the law since he was a teenager....Bushy had problems for years well into he was a full grown man.
I wonder how Liar_k will remember Bushy?
Here I thought Liar_k would be a different person after returning from her lobotomy.
posted on December 26, 2006 02:53:27 PM new
Geesh, Linda. Like my mom used to say, if you haven't anything nice to say. . .AND you shouldn't speak ill of the dead.
Sorry, but I had to put my daughter's dog Summer to sleep today and I'm not handling it too well at all.
posted on December 26, 2006 04:06:03 PM new
cheryl - Maybe YOU should follow your own Mother's advice then.....you certainly haven't.
I have no respect for law breakers, wife beaters, druggies etc.
And it's MY right to say so cheryl.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on December 26, 2006 04:31:17 PM new
Can you imagine what a horribly dull boring place the world would be if only "perfect" old Fascists like linduh were allowed to create anything of an artistic nature ????
Since linduh thinks she's the only "right" person in the world no one else should be allowed to create ????
GAWD! Bigpeepa's right, that Christmas lobotomy didn't work.
This once again proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how sorely lacking in education/culture she is !!!!!
She obviously knows NOTHING about the arts, history...NOTHING...and yet still shoots that fat flapping mouth off as if she has something of value to say ????!!!!!!
posted on December 26, 2006 04:36:21 PM new
Oh I see. Liberals don't care WHAT a person does....no matter how horrible they are....as long as they have some sort of talent that they are appreciated for. THEN all the rest of their actions are totally dismissed and never to be considered. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
saddam and the terrorists ARE the ones responsible for the deaths of our soldiers.
Get real....please....just for once.
Did you also blame the democratic presidents for the deaths of all our soldiers who THEY sent to war? Or did you then blame our enemies?
I already know the answer to that one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Dec 26, 2006 05:51 PM ]
posted on December 26, 2006 06:36:38 PM new
How often have you gloatingly said that the "CIC" has the final word on war decisions, no matter what we liberals say. That, to me, means he has the final responsibility. Bush gave them the opportunity to kill our soldiers by sending them there. You,I am sure, will spin it to fit your opinion of the moment. In any case,the main point of my post--which apparently went over your head--is that James Brown's music was appreciated by many fans, but no one is nominating him for sainthood.
[ edited by coincoach on Dec 26, 2006 06:41 PM ]
[ edited by coincoach on Dec 26, 2006 06:50 PM ]
posted on December 26, 2006 06:45:20 PM new
In regard to your question of blaming presidents: If any president, Democrat, Republican or Independent, got us into a mess of this proportion---yes, I would absolutely blame him. Unlike you, I do not tow the party line.
posted on December 26, 2006 11:00:03 PM new
Just goes to show what you DON'T know about me, coincoach. You made ANOTHER assumption about me....and you were WRONG again.
I FULLY supported president clinton when he bombed iraq to destroy their WOMD.
I wish he'd done MORE at that time. But he didn't have the guts.
AND I FULLY supported him when he and his administration made it our NATIONAL POLICY to REMOVE saddam from power.
No partisan lines on this issue for me. So....you're wrong once again. tsk tsk tsk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Dec 26, 2006 11:02 PM ]
posted on December 26, 2006 11:53:29 PM new
""I FULLY supported president clinton when he bombed iraq to destroy their WOMD.
I wish he'd done MORE at that time. But he didn't have the guts.
AND I FULLY supported him when he and his administration made it our NATIONAL POLICY to REMOVE saddam from power.
No partisan lines on this issue for me. So....you're wrong once again. tsk tsk tsk """
linduh , you ARE the best at sounding like a pompous ass !
It's quite sad that you are so lacking in culture or a higher education....must be tough not to be able to enjoy any of the arts unless you know the personal history of the artist and APPROVE.
I wonder if you realize how backwards you sound...???probably not, you're too backwards whenever you do a "TSK TSK TSK" it reminds me of an old lady trying to loosen her girdle
posted on December 27, 2006 06:29:55 AM new
TSK TSK, Linda. You shouldn't assume that I have the time or inclination to study all your posts to see if there was one that shows your bipartisanship. I can only go by your recent posts as I am fairly new to the board. Don't want to tell you what to do and what to answer. That seems to irk you, but how about my previos post:
"How often have you gloatingly said that the "CIC" has the final word on war decisions, no matter what we liberals say. That, to me, means he has the final responsibility. Bush gave them the opportunity to kill our soldiers by sending them there. You,I am sure, will spin it to fit your opinion of the moment. In any case,the main point of my post--which apparently went over your head--is that James Brown's music was appreciated by many fans, but no one is nominating him for sainthood."
posted on December 27, 2006 10:00:32 AM new
No. 11 on Britt's list of the 14 Points of Fascism:
"""Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts.
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts."""""
posted on December 27, 2006 12:57:32 PM new
Cheryl, linduh can destroy NOTHING. Let's just wipe our shoes off as if we stepped in something vile and continue on.....
posted on December 27, 2006 01:00:27 PM new
cheryl - Imo, you have a VERY DISTORTED idea of what 'destroying a thread' actually means.
Posting MY opinion did NOT destroy this thread. LOL LOL LOL
But you had to go preaching to me about what your mother told YOU....when YOU don't even follow her advice.
I did NOTHING but post my opinion....YOU started the other crap. Take the blame yourself....don't incorrectly place it on anyone ELSE. YOU started the preaching.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on December 27, 2006 01:08:52 PM new
That reminds me of one of my old dogs, Cheryl. He lived for about 15 years until he could no longer stand up. He had cancer so we had to have him put to sleep also. It's a very sad time...just as if a member of the family died.
It was nice of you to start this thread on such a sad day for you.
posted on December 29, 2006 10:57:51 AM new
Again, rusty, you only prove that you don't have the ability to differentiate between people who had problems in the past...and over came them vs people who died while continuing on with those same lawbreaking, addictive, abusive behaviors.
posted on December 29, 2006 12:12:13 PM new
Again, linduh, you only prove that you don't have the ability to differentiate between people who had problems and enjoying the music/art they produce.
But that stems from a complete void of beauty, education, and culture in your life...not surprising.......too bad you missed out on so much
posted on December 29, 2006 12:22:37 PM new
LOL...once again showing you don't know anything about my personal life....but just can't refrain from assuming. You're obsessed mingo...and only post falsehoods about my private life.
tsk tsk tsk
Yea, guess I, according to those who admire wifebeaters, druggies and lawbreakers.....I should feel ashamed for not admiring totally out of control 'artists'. lol lol lol
Truth is...I don't. I see them for just what they are....just how they've lived their lives...and don't believe making great music EXCUSES all their horrible behaviors.
lol lol lol
I understand the liberal minds see things differently....but that's why I feel so many of them don't have very good ethics nor morals. They're just too willing to overlook anything negative when it's someone THEY support.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
