Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.

Subject: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 03:35 AM

His music was not my music but whenever I listened to him I was stirred. I'm sorry he's gone.

"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."

The Godfather of Soul

Subject: Obit: James Brown RIP
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 03:36 AM

I heard it on CNN today

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Peace
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 03:59 AM

RIP indeed. Thanks for the music.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Genie
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 04:05 AM

Rest in peace? I think not.

Keep on rockin' over on the other side, James!

We'll miss ya here.

G

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 04:26 AM

RIP Sock it to 'em JB. A huge influence.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Chris Amos
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 05:02 AM

Sad news indeed.

Chris

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 06:05 AM

What a guy. The Rock of Ages will be cleaving tonight.
Giok

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 10:53 AM

A lot of times other folk's words say what you wanna say better than you can.

See this comment from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/25/31934/402 Breaking: James Brown Dies at 73"; by glazeone; Mon Dec 25, 2006

"Say It LOUD
I'm Black and I'm Proud!

That was our unofficial anthem in the 1970s. James Brown made us proud to be black and wear afros and daishikis during a time of racial violence around the country.

Sometimes lyrics on other songs didn't make a lick of sense, but you loved the beat. Say It Loud was a powerful statement that made perfect sense then and now.

Oh my God. Through all of his tangles with drugs and women and police, I thought he would live forever. His lyrics will, though.

God bless you, Godfather of Soul. God bless you."
by CocoaLove on Mon Dec 25, 2006

**

Also, this comment from the same diary made me smile through my sadness at this news:

"What he died of!? What he died of?!
Get someone down there to check the ward.

Guarin'-ball-bearin' cher --James was laying there all weak and worn out, an' they kept playing that godforsaken Muzak in every room on the ward . . . Muzak . . . endlessly . . . eternally . . .

James just hadda step on outta there.

maybe it was "I Write The Songs" that clinched it,

maybe it was "Piano Man" or "Little St. Nick" or even a syrupy , syncopated version of his own "Cold Sweat" that convinced James to pack it in, and let loose of the mortal coil.

The steam drill got John Henry in the end. Muzak probably got the Godfather of Soul, I betcha.

Now Papa really does have a brand new bag. I know it's rockin' wherever he is this Christmas Day.

We'lll miss you, brother..."
by antifa on Mon Dec 25, 2006

-snip-

God bless you, James Brown.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 11:04 AM

Was about 10 years old and my older brother's friends let me tag along to the T.A.M.I. movie. I thought it had something to do w/Debbie Reynolds. At the Ezella Theater in Cleveland, Oh. We were the only white kids in the building and I was petrified. Will never forget when James Brown came on screen the whole house erupted and people ran down front. Dancing all over the aisles and seats. Was filled w/wonder, awe, excitement, fear, joy and goose-bumps that wouldn't go away. Had never been witness to anything remotely resembling the experience. Was a rural boy and people just weren't demonstrative where I lived. Changed my life. It was in that moment I became a musician, though I didn't know it at the time. Then later in the movie the Rolling Stones came on and the place went just as crazy. Learned more about race relations and the international language of music, passion and energy from that movie then all of the books or newspaper articles I've ever read. It was primal, direct, subversive, unspoken and pure. The Stones may have been pale imitations of who they loved, but the kids in that moviehouse didn't care. They knew on some instinctive level the Stones just rocked. James Brown just rocked...the cape routine. Phenomenal. Thank you Mr. Brown, RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 11:16 AM

That's a great comment, Jeff. Thanks for sharing it.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 11:18 AM

I heard this on the news. Doesn't make Christmas happier, not at all.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: jacqui.c
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 11:36 AM

He was just over a year older than Kendall. Too young to go, but the music and the message are here for good.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: 282RA
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 02:21 PM

I remember the first time I saw him. It was the mid-60s in Detroit and soul was where it was at. He was always swinging through ground zero of the soul movement and he was always on the local dance shows. This dude with the crazy hair and the dancing feet screaming, "Heeeeeeeeyyyy!!" singing about Cold Sweat, I Feel Good, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag. By the 70s when he was doing Sex Machine, Hot Pants, Funky President, The Payback, he was the man you went to when you needed to cop a super-duper bass line or guitar riff because nobody else did it that way--though god knows they tried.

Hard to believe he's gone now. But thank you, James, for the ride. RIP (Rockin In Paradise) Soul Brutha #1.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 04:12 PM

A magnificent performer and a legend of the era has passed. Peace be with you.


Rolling Stone obit

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 06:51 PM

Never a big fan of his, but admired the following and talent the man had. Brought happiness to a lot of people , so mission accomplished in life. May God welcome him into that great musical group somewhere behind the clouds.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 09:10 PM

The hardest workin' man in the afterlife!
Boogie on, James.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 09:50 PM

In my misspent youth I loved his music and saw James Brown perform live. WOW! He could put on a show!
It is really sad to even think that he might be older than thirty nevermind gone.
Damn

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: JennieG
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 11:16 PM

Only a couple of nights ago one of the local stations here showed the "Blues Brothers" movie - James Brown was one of the musical stars. A long way from being the best movie ever made but fun, and some wonderful musicians.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Scrump
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 05:49 AM

A highly influential artist. RIP JB!

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: gnu
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 06:11 AM

Sad news, indeed. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Skivee
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 07:24 AM

"OW!...Good Golly!"

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: shepherdlass
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 06:21 PM

Not the best Xmas pressie music could have. So sad - and to think he looked on top form only a few months ago.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 02:44 AM

As a performer he was a dynamo & quite the put on. I probably 1st saw him on my own at the Sugar Shack in Boston, I was about 17 at the time & he was hell on the stage. I did get to see him a few times after that in larger concert venues but he was never better than when I saw him at that small club on Tremont St.

As a person I'll refrain from speaking.

Barry

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Mooh
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 07:13 AM

And didn't he ever lock in with some great bass players! Those bass lines are what make the music, simple and distinctive.

Keep a'rockin'!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 10:12 AM

There's a village hidden deep in the valley among the pine trees half forlorn
And there on a sunny morning little James Brown was born
All the chapel bells were ringing in the little valley town
And the songs that they were singing was for baby James Brown
And the little congregation prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation bless this hour of meditation guide him with eternal love

There's a village hidden deep in the valley beneath the mountains high above
And there twenty years thereafter James was to meet his love
All the chapel bells were ringing twas a great day in his life
For the songs that they were singing was for James and his wife
And the little congregation prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation bless oh Lord this celebration
May their lives be filled with love

From the village hidden deep in the valley one rainy morning dark and grey
A soul which wait in the heaven James Brown had passed away
Just the lonely bell was ringing in the little valley town
Twas there well it was singing to our good old James Brown
And the little congregation prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation may his soul find this salvation of Thy great eternal love

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Dec 06 - 01:05 PM

WFMU has a 3-hour, archived (streaming) tribute here: http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/21538

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 11:06 AM

Take to the bridge James. For all of his demons he was an amazing innovator.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 09:44 AM

Accordind to the associated press today :

JAMES BROWN STILL NOT BURIED:

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- The body of soul singer James Brown has yet to be buried as attorneys and his children work to settle issues surrounding his estate, including where he will be laid to rest.

For now, his body lies in a sealed casket in his home on Beech Island, said Charles Reid, manager of the C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta, Georgia, which handled the services.

Brown died of heart failure December 25 at age 73.

His will has yet to be filed, said Buddy Dallas, an attorney for the singer.

The room where Brown's body lies is being kept at a controlled temperature, and security guards keep watch, Reid said.

The funeral home delivered Brown's body after services December 30, Reid said.

Brown's home has been locked since hours after his death to protect his memorabilia, furnishing, clothes and other personal items, Dallas said.

"Just imagine what would have happened," Dallas said. "Items of James Brown would have left there like items off the shelves of Macy's in an after-Christmas sale."

The trustees for his will, along with Brown's children, will determine the burial site, Dallas said.

Tomi Rae Hynie, Brown's partner, said shortly after his death that she encountered locked gates as she tried to get into the home she says she shared with the singer and their 5-year-old son.

She wouldn't discuss the incident Tuesday, but her lawyer said Hynie should be granted access to the home. The attorney would not say whether Hynie would take legal action.

"The hope is that all parties can sit down and figure out what the problem is and what the challenges are," attorney Thornton Morris said. "And once we figure out what the challenges are we'll see if we can't resolve something that's a win for everybody."

Meanwhile, a woman who claims Brown raped her nearly 20 years ago said Tuesday she will continue her lawsuit.

Jacque Hollander has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her sexual harassment suit, which a lower court ruled last year she had waited too long to file.

A Supreme Court decision on whether to hear the case is pending.

She argues that the two-year statute of limitations in such cases does not provide equal protection to women.

"This has been a long road that ended tragically Christmas morning," Hollander said in a phone interview with the Associated Press.

"As a rape victim, I will never get to face him in court, and it hurts," she said. "But we are moving forward. We filed against his organization, as well as him. So now his organization stands in front of him."

In her lawsuit, Hollander said Brown raped her at gunpoint in 1988 while she was his publicist. She seeks $106 million in damages.

A federal appeals court tossed out Hollander's lawsuit in August.

"There was nothing to it 20 years ago and nothing to it 20 years later," Dallas said.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Mr. Dynamite
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 11:54 PM

The memory banks were rattled by the reference to the TAMI Show above. I first saw that as The TAMI/TNT Show which repackeded two live concerts from the mid-60s. Lots of great soul and rock acts and a totally racially mixed young audience, everybody grooving to the bands and the wacky go go dancers (including a young Teri Garr!). Really a terrific movie music experience. Saw it at the old Strand theater in SF in the mid-80s. The house was nearly empty, but those seven people went nuts when James Brown in his prime came on the screen. We all started screaming. Even the janitor. I still get goosebumps thinking of it. I read that Elvis rented a theater in Memphis that he could watch that scene over and over. The way I remember it The Rolling Stones looked pretty wimpy coming on after him. Amazing.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 12:25 AM

A sort of humorous story ............

My sister-in-law and her family had a once in a lifetime Christmas by going to Norway and Sweden over the holidays. Karolyn said the Swedish radio they were listening to was talking about something and the words "James Brown" were the only thing they understood. She and Bob kinda' looked at each other and as they live in Atlanta, they are used to hearing about Brown's latest craziness. But there in Sweden they began to wonder if perhaps he had died. About then the radio station played "I Got You" (I Feel Good) and they figured that surely they wouldn't have played that if he'd died! So they were home in Atlanta before they found out he had indeed passed on.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 09:20 PM

Great post, guest Jeff. I had the same reaction when the T.A.M.I. show was shown on TV. "Please, Please, Please." the song with the cape routine, was phenomenal showmanship and soul, and his dancing/footwork was something I hadn't seen before. I was introduced to James Brown's music when I was in Jr. High in '65-'67. The schools were recently integrated, so there was alot of new musical cross-fertilization going on. Both black kids and white kids were fans of James Brown.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 03:05 PM

This week, in a small town not too far from my home, two elderly men got into an argument over James Brown's height. One ended up shooting the other. No joke. Passions run high regarding Mr. Brown.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:53 PM

The original T.A.M.I. Show(I think TAMI stood for Teenage American Music International...someone correct me if I'm wrong)is available online someplace. It was repackaged w/another movie featuring Ike and Tina Turner w/Chuck Berry doing the segways and intros, but was not nearly as good as the originals. 'That Was Rock', was the name of it, I think.
When my 2 nephews were teens and learning how to play the original TAMI show aired one Sat night in Pittsburgh. Their mom told me they laughed at everybody(Leslie Gore, Jan and Dean, The Barbarians, etc.) except James Brown and the Stones. She said they sat there transfixed and wanted to call me right then though it was 2:00 AM. The next day I remember them calling wanting me to come over and jam. Of course I did and showed them every Beatles, Buck Owens(they LOVED 'Sam's Place'), Ventures, Hendrix, Cream, Stones, James Brown, Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder song I could remember. My nephew(the drummer)says he never heard 'the kick drum' until then. They in turn a few years later introduced me to Lagwagon, Pennywise, NOFX, Staind, Me First and the Gimme Gimmies, etc. They're in their mid 20's now and have a punk/goth band called 'This Wicked' on myspace.com. May or may not be to one's taste, but the musicianship is superb. When we get together on holidays we run those old songs, though acoustically. Again, thank you Mr. Brown, RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: James Brown December 25, 2006 R.I.P.
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:05 PM

James Brown made a masculine music. I mean that as a good thing and a fine complement to music, masculinity and Mr Brown.