James Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Brown
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Brown performing in Hamburg, Germany, in February 1973
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James Joseph Brown Jr.
May 3, 1933 Barnwell, South Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | December 25, 2006 (aged 73) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Children | 9 (possibly 13; see below) |
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James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was also a musician, record producer, and bandleader. People often called him the "Godfather of Soul" or "Mr. Dynamite." He is known as the main creator of funk music.
Brown's career lasted over 50 years. He helped shape many different music styles. He was one of the first ten people to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
He started singing gospel songs in Georgia. In the mid-1950s, he became famous as the lead singer of the Famous Flames. This was a rhythm and blues group started by Bobby Byrd. With songs like "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown became known for his amazing live shows.
His biggest success was in the 1960s. He released the live album Live at the Apollo. Hit songs like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" followed.
In the late 1960s, Brown changed his music style. He focused on strong, repeating rhythms. This new sound helped create funk music. By the early 1970s, he fully developed the funk sound. He formed the J.B.s and released songs like "The Payback". He also sang about social issues, like in his 1968 hit "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown kept performing and recording until he passed away in 2006.
Brown had 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds a record for having many songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that didn't reach No. 1. He was honored by many groups, including the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him seventh on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Brown was born James Joe Brown Jr. in either Barnwell, South Carolina or Pulaski, Tennessee. His birth year is sometimes listed as 1928 or 1933.
He grew up in poverty during the Great Depression in Augusta, Georgia. As a teenager, he faced some challenges. He met Bobby Byrd during this time. With help from Byrd's family, he was able to get an early release from his troubles. He promised to find a job and not return to Augusta.
Brown tried boxing and baseball, but a leg injury stopped him. He then turned his energy to music. He changed a vocal group called The Gospel Starlighters. This group became the first version of The Famous Flames.
Rise to Fame in the 1960s
James Brown toured all the time. He often called himself The Hardest Working Man In Show Business. His band became very popular because of their live shows. Brown's early songs were gospel and R&B. They had a strong rhythm and sharp singing. This style later grew into "funk" music.
Brown's famous screams and stage moves made audiences very excited. His early songs were local hits and did well on the R&B charts. But the band became nationally famous when their live show was recorded. This happened with Brown's self-funded album Live at the Apollo in 1963.
After this success, Brown released many hit songs. These songs helped define funk music. Brown worked with musicians who had studied jazz. He was great at leading his band and writing songs. He combined the simple, driving beat of R&B with the complex rhythms of jazz. He also sang ballads and even Broadway show tunes.
Funk Music and the 1970s
By 1970, James Brown had a new band. Brown's music business grew, and he bought radio stations. He wanted more control over his money and his art. In the early 1970s, more people outside the African-American community started to notice Brown's achievements. Famous jazz musicians like Miles Davis said Brown influenced their music.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1985, James Brown had another hit song. He continued to live in the Augusta area. He was an important person in that community. A street in downtown Augusta is named James Brown Boulevard in his honor.
Brown received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003. A statue of Brown in Augusta was planned for 2004.
The 1991 four-CD collection Star Time shows his whole career. Many of his older albums have been re-released on CD. These often include extra songs and notes from music experts. James Brown is now widely known as a music innovator. Four of his albums were on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
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These famous albums were:
- Live at the Apollo (1963)
- In the Jungle Groove (1986)
- Star Time (1991)
- 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (1991)
His Passing
On December 25, 2006, James Brown passed away. He died from pneumonia and heart disease in Atlanta. A public memorial service was held at the Apollo Theater. Famous musicians like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Prince attended. In 1993, Brown even appeared in The Simpsons episode Bart's Inner Child.
Images for kids
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Brown (middle) and The Famous Flames (far left to right, Bobby Bennett, Lloyd Stallworth, and Bobby Byrd), performing live at the Apollo Theater in New York City, 1964
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Brown performing in 1969
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Brown with a disc jockey after a concert in Tampa in 1972
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Brown performing in 1973
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James Brown (1977)
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Brown during the NBA All-Star Game jam session, 2001
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Brown performing in June 2005
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Brown's most famous MC was Danny Ray (center), who was with him for over 30 years.
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Brown and MC Danny Ray during cape routine, BBC Electric Proms '06 concert
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James Brown memorial in Augusta, Georgia
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Public memorial at the Apollo Theater in Harlem
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Statue of James Brown in Augusta
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Traffic box public art commissioned to be painted by Ms. Robbie Pitts Bellamy in tribute to Brown in 2015
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See also
In Spanish: James Brown para niños
