JAMES BROWN
Name: James Brown
Birth name: James Joseph Brown, Jr.
Born: 3 May 1933 Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
Died: 25 December 2006 Atlanta, Georgia
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006), commonly referred to
as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", was
an American entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th
century popular music. He was renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing
and unique rhythmic style.
As a prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer, Brown was a
pivotal force in the evolution of gospel and rhythm and blues into soul and funk.
He left his mark on numerous other musical genres, including rock, jazz, disco,
dance and electronic music, reggae and hip hop. Brown's music also left its
mark on the rhythms of African popular music, such as afrobeat, joja and mbalax,
and provided a template for go-go music.
Brown began his professional music career in 1953, and rose to fame during the
late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances
and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he
continued to score hits in every decade through to the 1980s. In addition to his
acclaim in music, Brown was a presence in American political affairs during the
1960s and 1970s, noted especially for his activism on behalf of fellow African
Americans and the poor. During the early 1980s, Brown's music helped to shape
the rhythms of early hip-hop music, with many groups looping or sampling his
funk grooves and turning them into what became hip hop classics and the
foundations of this music genre.
Brown was recognized by a plethora of (mostly self-bestowed) titles, including
Soul Brother Number One, Sex Machine, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in
Show Business, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please
Please, The Boss, and the best-known, the Godfather of Soul.
Name: James Brown
Birth name: James Joseph Brown, Jr.
Born: 3 May 1933 Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
Died: 25 December 2006 Atlanta, Georgia
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006), commonly referred to
as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", was
an American entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th
century popular music. He was renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing
and unique rhythmic style.
As a prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer, Brown was a
pivotal force in the evolution of gospel and rhythm and blues into soul and funk.
He left his mark on numerous other musical genres, including rock, jazz, disco,
dance and electronic music, reggae and hip hop. Brown's music also left its
mark on the rhythms of African popular music, such as afrobeat, joja and mbalax,
and provided a template for go-go music.
Brown began his professional music career in 1953, and rose to fame during the
late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances
and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he
continued to score hits in every decade through to the 1980s. In addition to his
acclaim in music, Brown was a presence in American political affairs during the
1960s and 1970s, noted especially for his activism on behalf of fellow African
Americans and the poor. During the early 1980s, Brown's music helped to shape
the rhythms of early hip-hop music, with many groups looping or sampling his
funk grooves and turning them into what became hip hop classics and the
foundations of this music genre.
Brown was recognized by a plethora of (mostly self-bestowed) titles, including
Soul Brother Number One, Sex Machine, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in
Show Business, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please
Please, The Boss, and the best-known, the Godfather of Soul.