IN MEMORY OF JAMES BROWN THE "GODFATHER OF SOUL"

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs--Editor, N2Entertainment.net

Many of today's musicians have been bestowed with monikers--some even self-proclaimed-- to describe their musical reign or legacy. Titles like "King of Pop," "Queen of Hip-Hop" and "Impresario of Rap" are heard regularly when referring to rap, pop and hip-hop artists. And while some of the titles are worthy, you have to scratch your head about the others. But there was never a question when it came to James Brown. The legendary singer who over the years earned the nicknames, "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business," Soul Brother Number One," "Mr. Dynamite" and the "Godfather Of Soul," died in Atlanta on Dec. 25 from heart failure and complications from pneumonia.

Brown's body will lie in state at Harlem's Apollo Theater from Dec. 28-29. A private family service for Brown, 73, will be held Dec. 29 in Agusta. The public funeral for Brown will be held Dec. 30 at James Brown Arena in his Augusta Georgia hometown followed by a burial later in the day.

Brown grew up poor and parentless in Barnwell, S.C., His parents abandoned him when he was four-years-old. Brown's "Godfather of Soul" moniker initially came about after supplying his soulful and authoritative anthems like "Payin' the Cost to Be the Boss" to the soundtrack for the 1973 Fred Williamson movie, "Black Caesar." That song and his first 1956 major hit, Please, Please, Please," followed by "I Got You (I Feel Good"), "Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," (In 1986 he won Best R&B Grammy for this one), "Cold Sweat," and "Hot Pants" were just a few of the massive chart topping songs that defined Brown's extraordinary career.

But it wasn't just the amazing rhythms of this man's music that captured the hearts and soul of his fans. For many, and especially African-Americans, songs such as "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud" epitomized the civil rights struggle during the tumultuous 1960s. The song also was instrumental in uniting the black community like few other songs could. The emotional wail of Brown's other hit, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" was also a social commentary on male-female relationships.

Brown's musical influence was enormous. He showed us all how to get on the good foot and make it funky. Brown's music was and continues to be felt in nearly every musical genre from disco, rock, pop, funk and soul, to gospel, jazz, blues and hip-hop. It's not much of a stretch to say that without James Brown, hip-hip would not have become the commercial success that it is today. In 1986, Brown was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He received a lifetime achievement Grammy Award in 1992. In 1997 he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I was fortunate to first meet Brown while a student at San Francisco State University during. There had been rumors that Brown was going to blow through town and do a free concert at the campus before heading up to Lake Tahoe for an engagement. Of course no one at school believed that Brown would come and perform except me and my good friend Vicki Boyd and the school's star football player, Poncho James. That day, we cleared our calendars, cut class and staked out or spot. Front row, middle section. Perfect. Sure enough, when word finally arrived that Brown was going to show, the campus went crazy and the Barbary Coast show room filled up within minutes. The show--and it was a show--lasted a little more than an hour. James Brown, the processed-haired performer spun, danced, grunted, did the splits and shimmed his way on the stage ripping through all his classic hits. And to hear him talk to us afterwards about his career was absolutely phenomenal. I have since seen Brown perform in Reno, Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles. And while those shows were fun and exciting, they pale in comparison to the electric performance he gave that day at San Francisco State.

Years later I literally ran into Brown. I was covering the 47th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Brown was taking a break from his rehearsal. I was coming around a corner. And as he was coming off stage at the same time we bumped into each other. "Excuse me sugar, Brown said to me in his trademark, raspy sounding voice while flashing that big, white toothy smile. He stopped and we chatted for a good 15-20 minutes.

Of course I mentioned his SF State show, his then upcoming performance with Usher that night at the Grammys and who he thought might win that night. He was gracious, charming and funny as hell. It was probably one of the shortest "non-interviews" I'd ever had with a celebrity but it ranks as one of my best. It is also one that I'll cherish and never forget.

Brown certainly had his share of problems off stage. Drugs, arrests, jail, tax evasion and allegations of spousal abuse dogged him much of his life. But somehow Brown always seemed to bounce back from all the controversy and adversity. He even beat prostate cancer.

Usually Christmas Day is spent with my family and friends listening to lots of great Christmas music. It just so happened that I had Brown's "Christmas" CD, as one of my selections.

When word came that Brown had died, I had to put on his definitive "Star Time" four-disc CD. No James Brown fan should be without this disc.

Listening to it over the Christmas weekend didn't seem out of place either. Instead it was a very fitting tribute to honor the memory of a visionary musical genius who truly knew how to have a funky good time.

Brown is survived by his partner, Tomi Rae Hynie, one of his backup singers, and at least four children ? his two daughters, Deanna Brown Thomas and Yamma Brown Lumar, and sons Daryl and James Brown II.