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Cultural hero
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James Brown was the most successful black artiste of the 60s and 70s
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MR. DYNAMITE James Brown was simply explosive
Known as the `Godfather of Soul,' `Minister of New super heavy funk,' `Soul Brother Number One' and the `hardest working man in showbusiness,' James Brown with a repertoire of over 800 songs, was the most successful black artiste of the Sixties and the Seventies.
Born poor during the Depression, he picked cotton, danced for pennies, shone shoes and even stole, getting convicted for theft at age 16. Thanks to local singer Bobby Byrd's intervention at the Alto Reform School, Brown was released early. The duo then formed a gospel group but plumbed for rhythm and blues under the name of the Flames, after watching a rock and roll show that featured Fats Domino and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters.
Their opening offering Try me, please, please, please got enough radio air play to attract the attention of talent scout Ralph Bass. By now, James became the face of the Famous Flames that evolved into the James Brown Revue, which had an opening act, it's own MC and a stage band.
Modelled on Ray Charles' live show, In person, Brown's Live at the Apollo recorded in 1962 at Harlem sold a million copies, hitherto unheard of for a black music album. Discarding conventional verse, chorus structure and even chord progression, his new sound focussed on rhythm and raw, emotive and uninhibited energy. In the late 60s, he was a cultural hero and a symbol of success over racism, a responsibility he took quite seriously. Investing in black businesses, sponsoring programmes for ghetto youth, Brown performed for troops in Vietnam and even went on TV, calling for calm after the assassination of Martin Luther King.
His records sold by the million until the mid-70s when he was faced with a plethora of problems. Forced to sell his jet and his three black radio stations, the biggest blow was perhaps the death of his son Teddy in a car accident. So was the International Revenue Service (IRS) on his trail.
Nonetheless, his popularity crossed boundaries to Africa and even Japan. A cameo role in the 1980 movie, The Blues brothers drew attention but his deeds brought infamy too as when he threatened a group of people with a weapon. `Living in America,' his theme song for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky IV earned Brown a Grammy in 1987.
While serving a jail sentence in the early 90s, he worked on material for a new album. Diagnosed with prostrate cancer in the new millennium, he continued undeterred, although his act lacked the power of his past concerts. But over the decades, his work influenced a slew of musicians including Sinead O'Connor, Public Enemy and George Michael.
A. GEORGE ANTONY
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