James Brown was born and raised in the small town of Barnwell, South Carolina in the early depression era. His family would live in poverty for most of their life and James was eventually sent to live with his aunt who ran a house of prostitution. He would attain an education to the seventh grade

James Brown

Hair is the first thing. And teeth is the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he got it all.

Southern By Birth

James Brown was born and raised in the small town of Barnwell, South Carolina in the early depression era. His family would live in poverty for most of their life and James was eventually sent to live with his aunt who ran a house of prostitution. He would attain an education to the seventh grade while he would get money from shining shoes and sweeping stores but he would also be participating in talent shows at the same time. He learned to play guitar from one of the patron’s at his aunt’s place of business as well as piano and drums from other patrons.

Career in Music

James Brown would form the group called the Gospel Starlighters and would go on to join another group called the Avons, and then on to The Flames. The group would ink a record deal with Federal Records and begin their recording career. The group released their first single called Please, Please, Please, which would sell over five million copies over time. Although the single was a great success, the group would not make it and eventually break up.

Brown would go on to pursue his solo career mainly in the category of R&B and gospel and would work with industry greats such as Ray Charles and Little Richard. James Brown would form his own group under his title name The Famous Flames and get a number one hit with the song Try Me, which would become the best selling single of the year.

In the 1960’s, Brown would go on to release numerous singles that would gain the attention of the Billboard charts and solidify his name as a musical artist. He would use Mercury Records as his distribution label to release his music throughout the United States as well as eventually to the rest of the world. Brown would go on to create the “funk” sound of the sixties and make history with his brash style.

Time and Trouble

James Brown would go on to purchase his own labels as well as his own radio station where he would feature many up and coming artists of the time. He created a music empire and would eventually become independent of most all other financiers that would help him achieve this monumental position. However, in the 1970’s, the later years in the decade would see Brown’s fame start to drift to the back light although he would go on to win numerous awards and later be dubbed as the “Godfather of Soul.”

He would also be known as his championing role in the Civil Rights movements of the 1960’s. However, life was not always easy for James. At the age of sixteen Brown would be labeled a felon when he was convicted of armed robbery. He would go to reform school where he would focus on his music although later troubles with the law would appear later in life. In the late 1980’s Brown would be arrested after a high speed chase that would result with him being charged with numerous drug related offenses, carrying a concealed weapon, and assault on a police officer.

He would later be released in 1991 although he was sentenced to over six years in prison. It would later be found out that the claims against him were not all true and in the case of the car chase, Brown was actually shot at numerous times, which may have led to him speeding to escape the law. Many other charges have been filed against James Brown as his life was riddled with drug abuse, which led him to make many bad decisions. Brown would eventually be pardoned for most of his crimes.

Many of Brown’s fans can find a copious amount of information on the singer. Also, some of his music may be available as free music downloads throughout the internet. Brown continues to live on in the minds and hearts of his millions of adoring fans.

Did You Know

• Brown has been played by the African American actor Eddie Murphey in numerous parodies although Murphy never played these roles with animosity.

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