This has been a rough year in some respects. We have lost some greats: from Kansas City heroes Buck O’Neil, Jay McShann and Lamar Hunt, to film legend Robert Altman. All have played their importance in some way and transcended into icons. So I am saddened to find out that we have lost another legend: the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown.
Music is greatly indebted to Brown, whose revolutionary funky rhythms, snarled horn arrangements and famous raspy voice changed the music landscape forever. There is no music right now that wasn’t somehow influenced by his signature sound: hip hop, rap, electronic, funk and even disco. With is politically charged funky soul, he influenced everyone from Sly & the Family Stone and Prince to Michael Jackson, Public Enemy and on and on.
Leave it to the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, to make his final curtain call on Christmas Day. No doubt he wouldn’t have it any other way. For NYTimes’ obit go here. For the NPR obit go here.