The Godfather of Soul has left the building

Time continues to march on. But the news of the death of the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" it brings a wonderful era of music to a close.

James Brown, the man who created funk and soul, even in his 70's could and did outdo performers 50 years his junior. Even the "gloved one" Michael Jackson owes his whole stage act to Brown because he basically stole it from Brown. P Diddy and Ice T would LOVE to be a quarter of the performer James Brown was at 70. These men owe their whole art to "Soul Brother Number One." Without him, they would have never been known.

Working as late as 4 weeks ago at an award show in Britain and booked for a show on News Years Eve in New York City showing why they call him the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business." Asked one time when was he going to retire. His response? "When God takes my last breath."

With on stage moves that put him in a class by himself and would put others in the hospital, James Brown was truly an American Original. You hear that term a lot to describe him. But with him, you wouldn't have Hip Hop. You wouldn't have Rap. And you wouldn't have Soul and Funk. James Brown did all of that before 1965! With a band of guitars, a full brass section, and percussion, a full cadre of hip shaking, scantly clad, high heeled backup singers and his signature stage collapse and cape wrap, a James Brown concert was a show you got your moneys worth.

James Brown was the first artist to do a form of rap in such songs as "Move On Up" and "Get Up Off of That Thing". His rhythmic sounds are very noticeable in any hip hop song you hear like from his hit songs "Sex Machine" and "I Feel Good." His soulful tones of love like "It's A Man's World" has been heard all through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's in not only Black music, but Rock and Country.

His life outside of music wasn't as great. Being married three times, once unknowingly marrying a woman who had not gotten a divorce from a previous marriage, being arrested for spousal abuse many times and going to prison for possession of PCP, spousal abuse and running from the law. He lived his life as hard as he pursued his music. Interestingly, he never had formal music training. What you got was raw talent at its best and he did it for over 50 years.

I had never been a huge fan, but as the years have gone by, I have come to appreciate his music very much. In my MP3 collection are about 10 of his more popular songs from the 60's and his 80's hit from Rocky 4, "Living In America." His most loved work was the 1962 self financed album "Live at the Apollo." This album is true raw Brown at his best. If you haven't heard it, GET IT NOW and TURN THE VOLUME UP TO 11!

There will never be another showman like James Brown. The "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" can now take a well desired rest.