The world lost an irreplaceable talent with the death Monday in Atlanta of James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul,” who composed much of the driving soundtrack for the Vietnam War and the turbulent ’60s and ’70s.
Brown, 73, who rose from poverty and a troubled childhood in the segregated South, built a large part of the bridge that took black music to mainstream audiences.
Few American youngsters could resist grooving to “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” or “I Got You (I Feel Good).”
Brown’s troubles with the law – reform school as a teen and a 15-month prison sentence after a two-state police chase in 1988 while high on PCP – gave his music an edgy verisimilitude.
Brown’s abusive treatment of women also marred his reputation.
His foibles stand in stark contrast to Brown’s virtuosity as a performer who insisted on absolute perfection from his band members and meticulously managed and choreographed the most minute detail of every musical number.
James Brown’s legacy is assured by the profound influence of his music on new generations of performers. His voice and the genuine emotion it conveyed with such force will remain unique in the annals of American music.
