Questions
Where and when was James Brown born?
James Joseph Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in a small wooden shack in Barnwell, South Carolina, and grew up in deep poverty before his family moved to Augusta, Georgia.
What are all those famous nicknames people call him?
He picked up several, including "Mr. Dynamite," "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business," "Soul Brother No. 1," and the one that stuck most, "the Godfather of Soul."
How did he get his start in music?
At 16 he was convicted of robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center in Toccoa, Georgia, where he formed a gospel quartet and met Bobby Byrd, who helped secure his early release in 1952.
What was his first big hit?
As lead singer of the Famous Flames, his 1956 record "Please, Please, Please" launched the group, and the 1958 ballad "Try Me" reached number one on the R&B charts.
What are his most famous songs?
Fan favorites include "Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag" (1965), "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965), "It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World," and the funk anthem "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" (1970).
What’s the story behind the cape routine on stage?
During "Please, Please, Please" MC Danny Ray would drape a cape over Brown as he collapsed from exhaustion, then Brown would shake it off for an encore. He reportedly took the idea from wrestler Gorgeous George and Little Richard.
Is it true he paid for the "Live at the Apollo" album himself?
Yes. In October 1962 Brown personally financed the recording and convinced label boss Syd Nathan to release it despite Nathan’s doubts, and the 1963 album reached number two and sold over a million copies.
Did he really run a fine system for his band?
Reportedly he did. While dancing with his back to the crowd he would flash hand signals at musicians who hit wrong notes, and band members could be fined for things like unshined shoes or being out of sync.
How did the J.B.’s band come together?
Most of his 1960s road band walked out over pay in March 1970, so Brown recruited musicians from Cincinnati’s the Pacemakers, including bassist Bootsy Collins and guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins.
Why is James Brown so important to hip-hop?
His music became some of the most sampled ever, and his 1969 recording "Funky Drummer" is so influential that pioneer Kurtis Blow called it "the national anthem of hip-hop."
Did Michael Jackson look up to him?
Yes. The article notes that throughout his career Michael Jackson cited Brown as his ultimate idol, drawing on Brown’s dance moves and stage presence.
What happened at his Boston concert after Martin Luther King Jr. died?
The day after King’s 1968 assassination, Brown gave a free televised concert at Boston Garden that was broadcast repeatedly to help keep the city calm, an event long remembered as part of his legacy.
What did "Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud" mean for his career?
Released in the summer of 1968, it became a cultural anthem, though Brown reportedly said it cost him much of his crossover audience afterward.
What awards and honors did he receive?
Brown recorded 17 number-one R&B singles and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 as one of the first ten inductees.
When did James Brown pass away?
He died on December 25, 2006, at age 73 in Atlanta from pneumonia.
