December 26, 2006
Now It's Dark...
It's a hell of a thing, losing James Brown on Christmas. It's akin to Santa Claus pupating into some larval snotbomb in front of the children, or something. But dancing feet akimbo, in true James style. Little Richard claims to have invented rock and roll singlehandedly, and that's cool. I don't think JB ever limited himself that way, however. R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, rap... the tentacles all reach back to James. The Man.
Here a story: back in the early '60's James Brown showed up in Savannah for a gig. Now, James had pulled a no-show a few months earlier, leaving the promoter holding the bag. The promotor sued, JB's peeps never responded, and so the Senator's law partner ended up in possession of a judgment against Mr. Brown.
So when James showed up in Savannah later to play a gig for the aggrieved promoter's rival, the Senator's partner seized his Cadillac in order to enforce the judgment.
James, apoplectic, strode into Anton's Restaurant, where the Senator and his partner had lunch every day, walked up to their table, and indignantly cried "Mr. C---! You gots me on my feets!"
And his entourage murmured "Amen!"
Or so I like to think.
At any rate, Big John and the Senator laughed at James Brown, and derived great merriment from his indignation and distress, then spoke to James' New York attorney to hammer out terms.
They released the Caddy, the Godfather of Soul were no longer consigned to his feet, and the Show Went On, followed by a check for the distressed impresario ten days later.
I can vaguely recall seeing James Brown (and once with his tiny son!) dancing on TV in those early days. That was one crazy son of a bitch. A crazy son of a bitch. But, indeed, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business.
I'll miss him terribly.
He sure as shit could move those "feets" like nobody else.
Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 27, 2006 4:54 AMgreat story, kim. please say it's true. please.
Shoe, the story is 100% true.
Posted by: Jack Straw at December 27, 2006 9:14 AM.. bagging a man's caddy is so very, very wrong....
Posted by: Eric at December 27, 2006 10:51 AM"Dancing feet akimbo"? as in "Resting lightly on his hips"?
man, that's some serious dance moves there.
Imagine what james and gerald are saying to each other in the afterlife waiting room right now.
Posted by: og at December 27, 2006 11:11 AMThat's more like it. It is an amazing list of popular music that lifted from Brown.
Check out "Ray" to how much shite Ray Charles got into for cancelling a show in Augusta in the same era. Don't fuck with the local power structure, don't care if you are an R&B king.
Posted by: rankin' rob at December 27, 2006 11:28 AMThe first time I saw him perform live, I drove 300 miles to catch him the following night.
Get Down is an understatement.
And for Christmas...Yabu got a brand new bag!!!!
Posted by: Yabu at December 27, 2006 1:17 PMWell, hell even Rev Al Sharpton is doing the shuffle, but his lawyer bagged his current wife....Got to love it even when toes up, James is playin the ladies......
Posted by: James Old Guy at December 27, 2006 1:42 PM"Big John and the Senator laughed at James Brown, and derived great merriment from his indignation and distress"
Thanks for the best laugh I've had today.
No disrespect to Mr. Brown intended, of course, and may he rest in peace, etc.
But that's a funny funny line, hombre.
Best,
Lee
Can James Brown get down?
Posted by: Catfish at December 27, 2006 7:50 PMGood Story, I totaly agree with you.
Posted by: Eric CarMichael at December 27, 2006 8:48 PMGood Story, I totaly agree with you.
Posted by: Eric CarMichael at December 27, 2006 8:48 PMGood Story, I totaly agree with you.
Posted by: Eric CarMichael at December 27, 2006 8:48 PM... damn, Eric CarMichael.... pick a fucking hole, dude......
Posted by: Eric at December 27, 2006 11:18 PMJust Damn. Saw Mistah Brown hizzownself perform in Forsyth Park just last year, the weekend of the Mistress's graduation from SCAD. Put on a helluva set, too.
He will be missed...but in passing, has given us some great lines:
"I Feel Nothin'"
"Papa's Got a Brand New Body Bag"
Posted by: Elisson at December 28, 2006 1:41 AMElisson...LOL
Posted by: Jean at December 28, 2006 6:33 AMOkay. So no one is perfect. And, God knows I wouldn't want my entire life to be judged by the mistakes I've made, but...seriously.
Other than being a talented musician, what did James Brown do to make the world a better place?
Public service?
Charitable works?
Motivational speaking?
What?
I'm not saying that he hasn't performed any of those admirable services, but I'm asking: Has he?
Other than God-given talent, and the fact that he was human, what makes him worthy of the kind of worship he's received this past week?
Complete strangers, by the thousands, lined up to view the procession...crying in the streets...
Really, now?
Posted by: jmflynny at December 30, 2006 10:06 PMThis is a great piece. I was a bit young to enjoy the 60's music scene, but while talking with the sister today...I remembered all those great stories of her sneaking off to some juke joint on Hilton Head to dance to the Hot Nuts.
And as far as his legacy is concerned...aside from his role during the civil rights movement(which may have been wee bit important)...he was a guy who really lived life large and out there, warts and all. And there is something admirable about that.
Yes, I'm turned off by the wife beating...but also weirded out by the unofficial widow's public display of grief. Did you catch that?
Posted by: Rosie at January 1, 2007 12:23 AMRest in peace James Brown.
Posted by: Libby at January 1, 2007 8:23 PM