A lot of people made fun of James as he got older and dementia set in, but he was always one of my favorite performers. Back in the early 90s I was lucky enough to play guitar for a James Brown tribute band called the Godfathers of Soul. I was also lucky enough to see him perform a few times when he was in his 60s, and even at that age he could still put on a heck of a show. (How many 60 year olds do you know who could do side-splits down to their crotch and then get up again without missing a beat?!)

People talk about the influence of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but James was the cornerstone of so many genres that it’s quite astonishing that one man could do so much: Funk, Soul, R&B, Disco, Rap, Funk Rock, Jazz Fusion, etc. Plus influencing artists as diverse as Public Enemy, the Meters, Aerosmith, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Talking Heads, the Black Crowes, Prince, Funkadelic, etc.

Even rock legends Led Zeppelin gave props to James with their song “The Crunge” and the Who’s first LP featured not one but two James Brown covers.

I once figured that if he played just his fifty-two top ten Billboard hits back-to-back he could perform for nearly four hours before leaving the stage. But in reality he’d never have the time to perform all of his hits, as in a live setting he’d stretch his songs nearly to their limits. When his band found a groove, there wasn’t much that could stop it.

And speaking of live performances, I’ll never forget the time there was a guy in the audience who was dressed up and dancing just like James Brown. James saw him and had him come up on stage to sing one of his hits. (The guy did a great job too, I think we were all keeping our fingers crossed!) Not many artists would give up the stage for some random fan in the audience, but James saw nothing wrong with giving one of his fans the spotlight.

And while he wasn’t the best song writer in the world, what he lacked in melody and composition he made up for in balls-on energy. He’s wasn’t called Mr. Dynamite and the hardest working man in show business for nothing.

Associated Press – Monday, 25 December 2006:

James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured “Godfather of Soul,” whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco, died early Monday in Atlanta, his agent said. He was 73.

Brown was hospitalized Sunday at Emory Crawford Long Hospital with pneumonia and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday (0645 GMT), said his agent, Frank Copsidas, of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, Copsidas said.

Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him.

His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie’s “Fame,” Prince’s “Kiss,” George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” were clearly based on Brown’s rhythms and vocal style.

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.