My first memory of James Brown is distinct. I was 6 years old, in 1967. On Saturday mornings, I would go visit my next-door-neighbor, Scott Meineke. His family was one of the few in the neighborhood that had a color television. We'd sit and color and watch the Beatles' cartoon program, the Monkees and whatever else was on Saturday mornings. In the evenings, I'd sometimes go over there to watch the Batman television show.
One morning either we, or his teenaged brother must have had some music program on. Though it was a color television, I remember seeing the clip in black and white-- not all shows had converted to color yet. I was transfixed by this dynamic performer-- it was James Brown doing "I Feel Good." I was hooked for life.
James Brown stands out with a handful of American originals-- Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan are among them-- that really defined twentieth century American music.
This morning's New York Times has a picture of Brown performing in Riga, Latvia in July of this year. Here's James Brown from some time in the sixties.
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7 comments:
I will pick up a copy of the NYT today. Quite a shock to learn on Xmas morning.
Good post Johnny. I'd add these folks to your list of American icons:
Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe and Elvis.
Absolutely, Bubs-- thanks for the additions!
I was listening to an 'NPR thing on Bill Monroe a while back-- what an amazing talent.
Do you own the 1969 Elvis Comeback Special? It's worth getting. I remember as a kid watching it, and the Hawaii special.
Bill Monroe could fucking play.
And Bill Monroe was a hell of a baseball player too. His band used to play against local local baseball teams in exhibitions when they'd tour.
One of my good friends in college got *approached* by James Brown in her hometown of Augusta. She was about 18 and he offered to, um, buy her some jewelry. Fabulous talent, kind of creepy guy.
But not as creepy as Chuck Berry. Now THAT'S creepy.
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