大象传媒

The Godfather of Soul.

Cynthia #1 in the US says: 鈥淗e represented a triumph over an entire era鈥�

Cynthia #2 (we鈥檝e two Cynthias on the show tonight!) grew up in the 60鈥檚 and says 鈥淲hen he said I鈥檓 black and I鈥檓 proud it did so much for African Americans. He was personable, friendly and never pretentious.鈥�

Chris Hawkins from 大象传媒 6 is with us: "One of his titles was the most sampled man in show business. The legacy lives on through the music. I heard him when I was six and you don't forget that. I saw him play the main stage at Glastonbury. He was known to be a hard taskmaster and a perfectionist. Warm and friendly is certainly the case for some but others will say how tough it was being a part of his life."

Cynthia Rose: 鈥淗istoric events enhanced his popularity. He made the dark man popular. People who saw him live saw the true experience.鈥�

Cynthia: 鈥淢y favourite was 鈥楽ay it Loud, I鈥檓 Black and I鈥檓 Proud.鈥欌��

Julie is in Atlanta: 鈥淗e was always part of my life growing up in a middle-class white neighbourhood. It鈥檚 interesting in retrospect . He has stayed at the top which is impressive for any musician.鈥�

Chris: 鈥淗e had his relationship troubles. He had troubles with the law. I won鈥檛 go into detail 鈥� it detracts from the magnitude of the man. He made an impact as important as the Beatles. He transformed soul into funk.鈥�

Cynthia: 鈥淓ach of his troubles with the law came at a different point in his life.鈥�

Nick: It鈥檚 easy to get carried away saying he was the Godfather of soul. He wasn鈥檛 that good.鈥�

Donnie: 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to criticise someone.

Nick: James Brown did a lot of things wrong in his life. His contribution is vastly overrated. The Beatles 鈥� I just don鈥檛 buy into that at all. He was worshipped for some reason that was hard to fathom. His music is simple. He is not an innovator.鈥�

Donnie: 鈥淢aradona is a genius and other things in his life weren鈥檛 so great.鈥�

Julie: 鈥淚t鈥檚 like faith. It鈥檚 something that is felt inside by the individual.鈥�

Some texts are in -- it seems James Brown was very popular in Africa:

Merry Xmas. I watched James Brown in amovie called undercover brother.Oh,Lord He was great!
Lubna, Iraq.

James has been so inspirational to many African Americans in the states during his time but most importantly he has been such a great son to those of us in Africa. He will be sorely missed.
Baboucarr SENGHORE, The Gambia.

Hello 大象传媒, Kool Moe Dee's "How Ya Like Me Now" became my favourite rap because of James Brown. James, rest in peace.
Karta Yu Tema,Ghana.

I can hardly recollect James Brown visiting Africa. What was his view of Apartheid while it flourished?
JOHNSON, NIGERIA.

Nick in Scotland still isn鈥檛 convinced . . .he鈥檚 scoffing at Julie鈥檚 hero-worship.

Julie: 鈥淗e contributed a lot to the American fabric. He touched people by overcoming.鈥�

Nick: 鈥淧erhaps I, as a British citizen may not understand. Many other black musicians contributed more. He took his success for granted in a lot of ways and acted in a selfish manner. There were only one or two good songs.鈥�

Julie: 鈥淗is performances in Africa were influential.鈥�

Nick has wilted!! Rabs hit him with some stats (which I saw her revising earlier 鈥� what a pro) and the man had to concede Brown was indeed a 鈥渓egend鈥�.

Cynthia Rose: 鈥淗is history isn鈥檛 well understood.鈥�

We鈥檙e breaking for the news but first some texts just in:

I remember James Brown when he came to Zambia in 1970,i was only 9yrs then when he performed at the Independence stadium with his band, the songs like i am black and proud, sex machine. Oh J.B rest in peace.
Morton Zulu,lusaka,Zambia.

James Brown is an Afro-American soul legend Icon to be missed.
Hamidu Mgaya, Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Dear 大象传媒 all good things must come to an end, and a time for every thing. We miss J. Brown, may his soul rest in peace.
From Jeremiah F.Akoi of Monrovia

And an e-Mail:
I am in shock today. He meant so much to black people everywhere and gave us pride. I met him three times at shows. He was kind and friendly. I remember his hand was large and soft as it shook mine. His music was breathtakingly innovative and creative. The world still hasn't caught up with him. I have more than 500 JB records and I will be listening to them all day.
Steve Hammer, Indiana, USA

A rollicking first half. It鈥檚 always nice to have a listener change their mind live on air.

Another e-Mail about Mr. Brown:

I think one of the things regarding James Brown's legacy that has been overlooked is his lasting influence on music...not only does he hold the record for the largest number of Top 40 hits...but his music is the most Sampled source in today鈥檚 hip-hop & pop. He's not a messiah or god but he IS an ICON, his music is his legacy!!
Rhonda