James Brown

James Brown (born James Joseph Brown on 3 May 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina, United States; died 25 December 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and bandleader. He is widely recognised as a central figure in the development of soul and funk and is often described by enduring nicknames including the “Godfather of Soul”. 

Brown’s early career developed from gospel and rhythm and blues performance into wider attention during the 1950s, including early records with the Famous Flames. His reputation grew through relentless touring and a distinctive live show, leading to major breakthroughs in the early 1960s as his recordings and stage performances gained national prominence. 

His peak success spanned the 1960s and 1970s, when he became a dominant force in American popular music and a key architect of funk’s rhythmic approach. The live album Live at the Apollo (recorded 1962, released 1963) was a landmark success that helped cement his status as a leading R&B performer, and later singles such as “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” were recognised for their role in shaping the emerging funk sound.

Brown continued recording and performing into later decades, with periods of renewed attention as new generations drew on his recordings through sampling, reinterpretation and tribute. His music remained a reference point across genres, and his catalogue continued to be reissued and reassessed as a foundational body of 20th-century popular music. 

Brown’s legacy is anchored in his influence on funk, soul, hip-hop and modern popular performance, as well as in the endurance of his recordings and stage persona. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his long-term cultural standing has been reinforced through major institutional recognition and continued critical study.