James
Joseph Brown, Jr.
(May 3,
1933 – December 25, 2006)
Commonly referred to as "The
Godfather of Soul", the "King
of Funk", and "The
Hardest Working Man in Show
Business", was an American
entertainer.
He is recognized as one of the
most influential figures in 20th
century
popular
music
and was renowned for his vocals
and feverish dancing.
As a
prolific
singer,
songwriter
and
bandleader,
Brown was a pivotal force in the
music industry. He left his mark
on numerous artists. Brown's
music also left its mark on the
rhythms of
African
popular music,
such as
afro beat,
jùjú
and
mbalax,
and
provided a template for
go-go
music.
Brown began his professional
music career in 1953 and rose to
fame during the late 1950s and
early 1960s on the strength of
his thrilling live performances
and string of smash hits.
In spite of various
personal problems and setbacks he continued to
score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In
addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was a
presence in American political affairs during
the 1960s and 1970s, noted especially for his
activism
on behalf of fellow
African Americans
and the poor. During the early 1980s, Brown's
music helped to shape the rhythms of early
hip-hop
music, with numerous groups looping or
sampling
his
funk
grooves and turning them into what became hip
hop classics and the foundations of the music
genre.
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