366Art | James Brown

Today is the birthday of The Godfather of Soul, James Brown. The edit above and his portrait on the musical reference works / birthday calendars below, are made by me.

James Brown was born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina, to 16-year-old Susie Behling and 21-year-old Joe Brown. His parents divorced when he was very young, and he was largely raised by his aunt Aunt Honey in Augusta, Georgia, who ran a brothel. This brothel, named Surrey's Paradise Café, was a well-known place in the local community. Brown spent part of his youth near the brothel and was exposed to the turbulent and often rough life that took place there. In the nearby army camp, James entertained the soldiers by dancing and singing for them. He earned his money by sweeping streets and shining shoes, and he regularly recruited soldiers for the brothel.

At the age of 16, he was convicted of theft and sent to a youth prison in Toccoa. There he met Bobby Byrd, a fellow inmate who was a member of a gospel group called The Gospel Starlighters. Byrd was impressed by Brown's singing talent and decided to invite him to join the group after his release in 1952. After his release, Brown joined The Gospel Starlighters and began performing at local venues. Later, the group evolved into James Brown & The Famous Flames. Their collaboration led to the successful debut single Please Please Please, released in 1956. The distinctive emotional and raw vocal performance of James Brown, along with the sincere and heartbreaking lyrics, made Please Please Please a powerful song. The success of the song laid the foundation for James Brown's later career.

In the 1960s, James Brown, together with his band The Famous Flames, reached a peak in his career with the album Live at the Apollo, a legendary live album by Brown, recorded on October 24, 1962 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City. This album is considered one of the greatest live recordings in the history of music and is a milestone in Brown's career and for the development of soul music in general.

After the release of Live at the Apollo, James Brown remained one of the most influential and productive artists in the music industry. Some of his most iconic songs are: 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 (1966), Cold Sweat (1967), Get Up Feel Like Being a Sex Machine (1970) and The Payback (1973).

James Brown built an extensive musical and business empire throughout his career. As one of the most influential and innovative artists in history, he had his own record label, People Records, on which he released his own music and that of other artists. His concert tours were often sold out and contributed to his financial success. In addition to his music career, Brown was involved in various business ventures. He invested in real estate, restaurants, and other business ventures, and he also made forays into acting and appeared in various films and television shows. He also had his own music programs and specials. James Brown served prison sentences at various times in his life, including a prison sentence for tax evasion in the 1980s. In 1988, Brown had to return to prison for a few years after threatening people with a gun. After his release in 1991, he toured the world as a living legend.

James Brown was also known for his political and social involvement, especially during the turbulent years of the civil rights movement in the United States. He was a vocal advocate for civil rights and equality for African Americans. He openly supported the civil rights leaders of his time, including Martin Luther King Jr. He even performed at the rally where King delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963 in Washington D.C. Brown used his music as a means to spread messages of empowerment and equality. Songs like Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1968) were anthems for the African American community. He organized charity performances and events to raise money for underprivileged communities and charities.

Although Brown never held a political office, he was involved in politics and had relationships with political figures. For example, he was seen as an ally of President Richard Nixon and performed at his inauguration ceremony in 1969. James Brown's political and social involvement was an integral part of his life and career, and his efforts have had a lasting impact on the fight for equality and social justice.

James Brown passed away on December 25, 2006 at the age of 73 from pneumonia after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Hundreds of thousands of people said goodbye in New York, his body rode on a horse-drawn carriage through, among other things, the black neighborhood of Harlem. After this, James Brown was laid out in the legendary Apollo Theater. The coffin remained open on the stage of the concert hall for seven hours, so that fans, family, and colleagues could pay their last respects.

James Brown The Godfather of Soul, has had a lasting influence on the soul, funk, and hip-hop genres. His political and social involvement makes him an important figure in the fight for civil rights and social justice.