Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

A cultural hero

James Brown was the most successful black artiste of the 60s and 70s

Known as the `Godfather of Soul,' `Minister of New super heavy funk,' `Soul Brother Number One' and the `hardest working man in show business,' James Brown with a repertoire of over 800 songs, was the most successful black artiste of the 1960 and 1970s.

Born poor during the Depression, he shone shoes and even stole, getting convicted for theft at 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.

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.

The carefully choreographed show broke box-office records in every major black venue in the country, earning him another sobriquet — Mr. Dynamite. 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. His new sound focussed on rhythm and raw, emotive and uninhibited energy. In the late 1960s, 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-1970s 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. . 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 1990s, he worked on material for a new album. Diagnosed with prostrate cancer, he continued undeterred, although his act lacked the power of his past concerts.

A. GEORGE ANTONY

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail