James Brown -- RIP

I guess the choir of angels needed a little more funk. The Godfather of Soul and an American icon has left us on the day we celebrate the birth of the King of Kings.

James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a giant of R&B and an inspiration for rap, funk and disco, died early Christmas morning. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said. Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style. "He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown," entertainer Little Richard, a longtime friend of Brown's, told MSNBC. "A great treasure is gone." If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.

And without a doubt, we have lost a icon of American culture, a man whose influence on the musical scene went from sea to shining sea and around the world. It's hard to believe that he is gone. Let me also note that Brown certainly could make a claim the title of "the hardest working man in show business" -- he had concerts scheduled for this week, and was to perform live on one of the New Years Eve shows. It took Death itself to silent that magnificent voice and still those dancing feet.

Posted by: Greg at 06:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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