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James Brown dies @ 73

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  • James Brown dies @ 73

    The "Godfather of Soul" died after being admitted to hospital Thursday night with pneumonia.

    Saw him first on TV in the early 60's and couldn't keep my feet still







    ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. 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. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.

    Copsidas said Brown's family was being notified of his death and that the cause was still 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.

    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.


    "James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."

    His hit singles include such classics as "Out of Sight," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Out Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.

    "I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black," Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society."

    He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (best R&B recording) and for "Living In America" in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.
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    Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 25 December 2006, 05:41.
    Dr. Mordrid
    ----------------------------
    An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

    I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

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    • #3
      I'm not a huge R&B fan but I can certainly appreciate his music. I've found myself singing "I got you(I feel good)" on so many occasions, I can't even begin to remember. Very catchy, fun song. He lived a fairly long life so I'm sure he and his family feel good about that. May he rest in peace on this Xmas morning
      Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

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      • #4
        My heart goes out to the soul of this true innovator. He was a man who pushed the envelope and allowed others to dream. We can all hope to do half as much.
        Wikipedia and Google.... the needles to my tangent habit.
        ________________________________________________

        That special feeling we get in the cockles of our hearts, Or maybe below the cockles, Maybe in the sub-cockle area, Maybe in the liver, Maybe in the kidneys, Maybe even in the colon, We don't know.

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        • #5
          Last words;

          "The most difficult thing is for me to stand here without him. We were a team," Charles Bobbit, Brown's personal manager, told reporters Monday.

          Pausing to fight back tears, Bobbit said he was at Brown's bedside when he died.

          Brown told him, "I'm going away tonight."

          Then he took three long, quiet breaths, and closed his eyes, Bobbit said.
          Speaking of which this is an interesting book;

          "Famous Last Words, Fond Farewells, Deathbed Diatribes, and Exclamations Upon Expiration"

          Amazon page....
          Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 25 December 2006, 15:55.
          Dr. Mordrid
          ----------------------------
          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

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