He is known as Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother Number One, the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business, Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please, The Boss and, of course, the Godfather of Soul.
Clearly Mr. James Brown is not one lacking in self-esteem.
But regarding his induction into the Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of 1986, alongside his peers Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, the living legend says today, "It was real important because I thought nobody liked me that much, you know?"
Born in South Carolina during the Great Depression, Brown picked cotton as a child, danced for spare change and shined shoes before being sent to reform school for three years at the age of 16 after he was caught and convicted of stealing. Brown, now 73, would continue to have well-documented legal troubles in the decades to come – a subject that, along with any questions dealing with black politics, was off-limits in our interview.
But Brown softens midway through, especially when asked about his post-reform school semi-pro boxing and baseball careers. "I love baseball," says the former southpaw pitcher. "My favourite player was Jackie Robinson [who broke pro baseball's colour barrier with the Montreal Royals in 1946]."
A leg injury forced Brown to pursue a music career, beginning with his first R&B hit Please Please Please in 1956. The rest, as they say, is history. As the Rock Hall explains, "What became known as soul music in the ’60s, funk music in the ’70s and rap music in the ’80s is directly attributable to James Brown."
Papa’s got a brand new bag
Brown apologizes for sounding more James Brown than ever. "I hope you understand me," he says, since he’d just had some work done at the dentist. Brown answers questions like he sings – in short bursts – but as his rare interview progresses, Brown warms up and his answers get longer and more involved.
Hour Did you realize then how important your music would be in helping break down racial barriers?
James Brown (Silence) I was just glad to be able to make music.
Hour When you performed in Zaire as part of the buildup to the Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974, who were you rooting for?
Brown I was wishing it would be a tie!
Hour You were a boxer. Is stepping into the ring anything like stepping onto a stage?
Brown Oh, yeah – you got a problem if you don’t know how to take a punch.
Hour Were any of your dance foot movements shaped by your early work in the boxing ring?
Brown My stage movements, it all came from boxing.
Hour Was your battle against prostate cancer in 2004 the biggest fight you ever had?
Brown It was the scariest fight of my life. I got through thanks to God, my wife and my friends. I was scared.
Hour How did you begin your famous stage routine with the cape?
Brown I got that from Gorgeous George the wrestler. He wrapped a towel around himself. The first time I saw him do that I thought it was a great idea.
Hour Do you still get as big a thrill performing live today as you did when you were younger?
Brown More now because you understand what you’re doing. For a long time it was Greek. Now it’s no longer Greek no more.
Hour You’re a disciplined taskmaster. If a band member is late, or off-key, what’s the biggest fine you ever gave?
Brown I’ll fine you $100 if you’re late. Same if you’re off-key. My wife is a singer and I’ll discipline her too. The biggest fine I ever gave was $1,000 [to a late band member] because I decided not to use him anymore. "Pay or you can leave." He took the fine. I learned to do it [assemble a tight band] over the years because I had good inspiration from my mentor Louis Jordan and [all those] big bands. All the people that were tight, they made it a business.
Say it loud – I’m black and I’m proud
At his height, James Brown was one of the most astute businessmen in showbiz. In 1962, without wide white support, his landmark album Live at the Apollo peaked at number two on Billboard’s album chart and went gold at a time when most black albums sold only 200,000 copies.
Like Elvis Presley, he is a three-figure hit maker, with 114 total entries on Billboard’s R&B singles charts and 94 that made the Hot 100 singles chart.
But his crossover sales would decline when his black anthems alienated white America, and his embrace of Richard Nixon would alienate black America.
Today, Brown says, "I got a mixed group: white, black, oriental, Latino. I got them all. I always did try to work my bands that way. They thought I was always for the blacks. But I’m for everybody."
And the Godfather – one of the most sampled artists in rap history, who received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992, was inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame just last month and has a new album coming out in 2007 – has some advice for the hip-hop nation.
"I think these guys are exciting and I get respect from all of them. But I wish they’d clean it up a bit because we gotta save these kids. What I did years ago, it’s all coming round. The dance steps, the ways of acting, teaching young fellows. Learn to love each other. In my lifetime we’ve learned to love each other less. Change the lyrics in the songs. They [the kids] got to hear something to emulate."
When I ask him how much God loves the music of the Godfather, Brown laughs out loud. "He’s the producer. I’m just the director!"
Brown’s really into it now. He wants to know where I’m really from, and when I tell him my father is from England and my mother from Africa, Brown says, "Aah. Well, you’re a decent young man. God bless you and God bless your family."
Then, faster than his signature one-three beat, Brown adds, "And we gotta clean these lyrics up!"
James Brown
w/ Parker House & Theory
At Métropolis Jan. 3 and at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre on Jan. 4
27 comments
What an honour it must have been to sit down with the Godfather of Soul for a rare interview. I can’t imagine the feeling of having an opportunity to watch, listen and keep your composure with this legend Bugs. James still sounds as witty and quick, even though he is nearly an octogenarian and comes seasoned like no steak you can buy in the store. I always loved his “Licking Stick-Licking Stick” song, “Get Up Offa That Thing” and the lesser known “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I’ll Get It Myself)”. He is as independent as they come (for a superstar), refusing too much handling and grounded now as he was while attending boarding school. I forgot about the lost baseball career, but thank God for knee injuries, otherwise we would’ve never had the pleasure of knowing him. It was wise to stay clear from questions about some of the problems Brown has had to overcome over the years: the firearms charges, the LSD period, the marital violence (he’s been married four times) and the drug abuse. PS: Did you know that his eyebrows are actually tattoos? He may not have shared that with you Bugs!!! His current “Seven Decades Of Funk World Tour” may be the last opportunity for fans to see him play live and probably worth every dime to see this kind of a legend running (albeit slower) across the stage. After that, fans will have to travel to Augusta to touch the seven foot bronze statue erected in his honour.
Just listened to John Lee Hooker’s “Face to Face” album. What does that have to do with James Brown? Plenty. These guys (and so many of their colleagues) should call it quits at some point. I love old JLH and James Brown songs, but unlike wine, their talent doesn’t get better with age. James Brown’s music of the past ten years all sounds the same. It is uninspired and uninspiring. I would even say… it has no soul. The same goes for most of the aging bluesmen and jazzmen of the last century. Go ahead and move on, Mr. Brown – and thank you for having indeed contributed greatly to society.
Man, just my luck to see Mr. Soul himself come down to Montreal, WHEN I WON’T BE HERE!!! Argh, how frustrating this is for me!! Granted, I am probably not one of his biggest fans, since I haven’t been around to hear all his songs over the many, many years he’s performed (I’m 25 yrs old), but DAMN! The thought of going to see him makes me light up cause he’s just so great, and a legend. Saying I had the chance to see him perform would have made my day, and perhaps would have stood out as one of the best concerts I have ever attended. I think the icing on the cake is that he’s coming to Metropolis, a small, intimate venue where the crooners can really get a feel for this man. Oh yea, not to mention the fact that tix are going on Hour also.
Too bad James Brown wasn’t a bit later in January, I’d be back by the 17th. If any of the promoters and concert planners are reading this, please do me a favor and postpone the show, just so I can attend. K, thanks.
It doesn’t get more old-school than James Brown – hell, dude was old when my parents were teens and he’s been plugging away steadfastly since time immemorial. And he’s still got those moves, that indomitable spirit, boundless energy and soulful cackle that’s his trademark. If he’s lost a step, you wouldn’t know it!
Hey, don’t kid yourself – as timeless or ageless as the Godfather of Soul may seem, he’s starting to get really long in the tooth. If you’re a fan, now’s the time to see him. He’s neither going to tour nor last forever…73 – think about it – this might be hist last big-scale tour, not to mention final foray into our fair city!
What more can be said than this is one of the last interview JB gave, and I’m proud to have seen him perform twice.
James Brown, sadly, passed away this morning; at this point in time the cause is not yet known.
I do not have tickets for the upcoming show since I had the luck to catch his show last year around this time of the year, but it is unfortunate that the 2 or 3 thousand people who bought tickets to see him in January will not get a chance to experience the charisma, soul and passion that he always carried around with him.
I was shocked to find out on Christmas morning that the Godfather of Soul had passed away earlier today. I know that many Montrealers will be disappointed not to be able to see him one more time on January 3rd.
I didn’t catch onto James Brown until his later part of the career. The first time I discovered him was watching the Blues Brothers movie and seeing him as the preacher. I was young then and didn’t even recognize who he was in that film but I soon found out who James Brown was. I quickly discovered his discography of hits. James Brown deserved the title as “the Hardest Working Man In Show Business”. He was already a pop icon then. Everybody knew who Eddie Murphy was making fun of in that famous Saturday Night Live skit with him in the Hot Tub. James Brown then made a comeback to the charts with “Coming to America” which showed everybody that he still had the chops.
James Brown had an interesting life but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he will lead a lasting imprint in the history of Rock and Roll. The Godfather of Soul is dead. Long live the Godfather.
It seems I have a little bit of bad news for everyone that was looking forward to seeing him in concert in Montreal or simply loved this extremely talented artist and entertainer.
Brown, the Godfather of Soul, died at 1:45 AM at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta after being admitted on Saturday for treatment of severe pneumonia.
Unfortunate as his death may be, I believe we can all take inspiration from the life that this man led. He emerged from a world of boundless poverty and crime to become one of the most successful, innovative and influential performers of not only our time, but as other users have noted, generations past. He produced innumerable hits as well as a particular song that became an anthem for civil rights (“Say It Loud”).
“Soul is all the hard knocks, all the punishment the black man has had … all the unfulfilled dreams that must come true,” he once said.
Although he never could quite escape his roots, the memory and music of this most talented and eccentric personality have been forever immortalized with his passing. It’s fitting he picked Christmas day to go, sad as it may be. He had to have a special day.
It is with sadness on this X-mas morning to learn of the passing of the godfather of soul. I am reading the article of the man that is on your cover after learning of his passing. My immediate reaction is probably alongside with millions who are going to miss his music.
He made his mark decades ago and clearly influenced many musicians of today. I had discussed with a friend about going to his show on jan 3, but as it turns god had other plans.
Rest in Peace the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business.
Well, damn, Bugs, you may have landed one of the last interviews with the Godfather. What’s to say that hasn’t already been said? It’s hard to overstate the importance of James Brown on the path of 20th and 21st-century music. I don’t necessarily listen to his records regularly, but between all the people he influenced, all the artists and genres his music helped to exist, he’s definitely a staple of my musical diet. There would have been no electric Miles Davis, no Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, no endless groove-jazz spinoffs or head-nodding jambands. Would hip-hop have been created without the “Funky Drummer” break? And drum-n-bass without innumerable breakbeats culled from James, his colleagues and his followers? House music and its brethren?
I’m still in shock. I hope his legacy will be preserved properly. To quote ?uestlove of the Roots:
“i pray that we can present a clear picture of how REVOLUtionary this man was. i know most of us remember him drunk as fuck on that youtube interview or you think Eddie Murphy or even the infamous Prince vs Mike battle of 1983.— but this man was on some REVoLutionary shit.” [from his myspace blog]
Sadly none of us will be able to see his scheduled concert because James Brown died early this Christmas morning at 1:45am. I was looking forward to getting tickets to see his show. I was really looking forward to seeing this legend perform! Believe it or not, a strange thing happened. At 1:30am Christmas morning me and my boyfriend were driving home from a Christmas party and we decided to put in the James Brown CD while driving home. I didn’t know then that we were listening to his music as he died. I really wanted to experience his energy in a live setting, but his time came before it was possible. He was great and will be missed.
I am saddened to hear about the loss of the Godfather of Soul. It is even more sad when you think that he died on Christmas. He has given us the gift of being one of the pioneers of bringing soul and funk music to newer generations of fans. He was so full of life and nobody can pull a move like he did – especially in his seventies. What he accomplished was so important to music making him truly a lgend and meriting fully his place in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
R.I.P. James Brown.
I am glad that Brown got the recogniton he did into the hall of fame along side his peers before the shocking news of his passing away.And yet congestive heart failure hits you whether you have been a recognized singer or not. Just that one is ill prepared that it should happen, the man is being lauded for his commanding performances and now he is gone. Could it have been the pressure of legal troubles that led to his surmise? Who knows. Of course he deserved the best because of the rough childhood, his sports injury and legal battles. Now he can rest, if it was the internal revenue at his door, they will pick on the living. Appreciate the advice he gives you young rappers: put more love into your lyrics and love one another more.
I am sorry to hear that Mr. Brown past away on December 25, 2006 of pneumonia. It is sad to hear another exceptional person has left too soon. He personally has endured many hardships(his son’s death) to inspiring acts( he was asked to calm citizens when Martin Luther King died) and as well his song (” I am Black and I am Proud”) as the anthem during Mr. King’s bid for freedom and peace. I wish I had the opportunity to see how this man managed to continue to be as daring and creative since the 50″s; to see how his unique style of dancing provided the wayand influenced Prince and Michael Jackson,just to name a few. To Mr. Brown I say Thank You for courage to be yourself , not to conform, to initiate and effect change in the way people live but also the way that they will think.
Bugs, you now may have the honor of being the last person to conduct an interview with James Brown. It was his dentist who recommended he see a doctor. Alas, even the hospital staff couldn’t save him.
I work for the company selling tickets for James Brown’s show. After all the fuss that’s been made about him coming to Montreal, you can imagine the shock I had when I learned yesterday to learn that he died from a pneumonia! I am not part of the generation that got to dance on his music, but still I knew James Brown to be a living legend, an icon in the music industry. Even after the age of seventy, he was sill doing strong, touring, recording and dancing like back in the days. It’s even weirder to walk in public places and see his show announced on the cover of newspaper- Hour, for instance-as it keeps on reminding us the huge loss for the music industry and the entire world that is his tragic and sudden death.
Wow, when i heard James was coming to Montreal, i nearly peed myself! After bidding on his tickets, hoping to get them, i find out on Christmas that the Godfather of Soul is gone. Such a sad thing, he was truley amazing…hey proof that James Brown was a God, he passed on Christmas day!!!
RIP forever James xoxo
Last week, I asked my wife if she wanted to see James Brown. I confess, I am not a big fan. I know the hits, but not much else. “Oh, I saw him 2 years ago, he is amazing!”. I replied that he is a legend, and it would be such an honor to see him. Sadly we won’t get that chance.
James Brown has taken the journey that we will all take one day.
However, James Brown did not die. He is a legend, and his memory, music, and influence will live on…
The one and only time I’ve ever envied Bugs Burnett. I can’t imagine what I would have asked the Godfather of Soul given the huge career he had and the storied life he led but I know the rare honor it is to have interviewed the man in the shadow of what we now know to be his last days on Earth. I thought the man would live forever, hell, he certainly seemed to never slow down, even when he was in trouble with the law he was a force of nature unto himself. Another great one has left us and the world is a little bit more quiet for it. Farewell.
WOW. This came a big shock. He is on your front cover. HE was suppposed to come to Montreal in the beginning of the year for a concert. And then on CHRISTMAS DAY he dies of a heart failure. Nobody saw that coming. WOW i can’t believe we lost a LEGEND like that so fast. He was really the godfather of soul and the best one out there. So long JB. WE will miss you but never forget you.
James Brown was and is an honorary member of the legends’ club. The heritage he leaves us with will live on, i’m sure, for decades to come if not more. He was undoubtedly a great source of inspiration to many rising and/or established artists and performers. I can’t help but wonder now if his words will have as much of an impact as his work: “…we gotta clean these lyrics up!”. I could not agree more. Today’s top rap/hiphop artists produce great stuff but it’s a little rough to listen to sometimes: let’s just say I wouldn’t want my unborn children to listen to most of it… and it’s unfortunate because those are the guys with the most influence on kids today. If they cleaned up their act a little as Brown suggested, I’m sure it would have a positive direct impact on many of today’s teenage generation. Rest in peace James Brown.
Wow…James Brown gone, the shock to millions of his fans everywhere. He was a man/musician who made a Big impact on the music scene (whether you heard of him or not, you knew the music anit got you moving). He was the man who influenced many musicians from his time to today. Its hard to believe he is gone, but he will continue to be in many hearts around the world. James Brown was a Legend who shall never be forgotten!
James Brown will be sadly missed. He has shown that true talent can keep a lasting career. At his age most would have retired but he continued belting out the tunes. It is too bad that we lost such a talented performer but he will never be forgotten.
Mourning and celebration come to mind when I heard of James Brown passing. As i mourn his death I also celebrate his life which was music. He accomplished thorough his art the impossible that is breaking down racial barriers as talent and not skin color was focussed on. May his message of unity be heard all around the world and may each and everyone of us, know that talent, gifts and art can build bridges between people. His lesson for my life is simple, use your talent, use your God given gift and never give up as it brings people together…. May his legacy and the legacy of all those who proceeded him and follow him live in in music and dance. May we find a bit of eternity by remembering the man, his work and his music. The music did not die with him it makes him alive each time we play anyone of his songs, or we dance or we watch him perform….
Mourning also indicates the coming of dawn and the new day one filled with memories and the other hopeful that we can all be one, different, unique and yet together bound by our love of the arts, of music, the word or a good performance. Let us celebrate his legacy and remember the man who gave each one of us so many hours of pleasure, allowed us to be creative and inspired a whole generation… Yes it is possible, a new day has dawned and his music lives….
Rest in peace James Brown and thank you for the memories those that passed in our youth and those we are making today and tomorrow when we listen to your songs.
God Bless you and your family, Selene
And that he did…in his casket. I watched the whole thing on BET, even the gloved-one (who probably wouldn’t have had such a phenomenal career w/o him) payed tribute to the Hardest working man in the business.Not to mention pretty much every black activist in the U.S. of A. Strange and unique…decided to hide much of his money in the backyard…maybe to avoid further IRS visits? Had lots of wives and women…ups and downs and changed almost 6 decades of music with his energy and originality…He can finally relax…(and not have to relax his hair neither).
RIP – Godfather!
Thank you Mr.Brown, My world changed at 13yrs. old. When I started listening to your music,I couldn’t sleep without radio or record player. I had a portable carry case. You were my comfort when I was on punishment in the house,I would get on everybody’s nerve cause I played you all the time. At “59″ I still do! I always came to your concerts,You would get your money’s worth guaranteed! I had an opportunity to meet you,but was scared to death because I was married and pregnant. I do have a picture that we took together in the ’80s’ and I still have it. My sisters use to make fun of me because I was so in love with you. I didn’t care what nobody thought,they weren’t gonna take James Brown from me. to this day,my husband teases me about James Brown. You will go down in history as the “God father of Funk!!! There will never be another “James Brown”. My sisters knew he was the best,they were just jealous cause I had found my “Man”. To this day,his music still sounds good,cause it still gets people on the floor! Prince&Michael have had sucess and I love”em”,but there is only one Godfather”James Brown”, “Phonomenal” RIP, LOVE YOU,Ms.Harriet