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The Hardest Working Man: How James Brown Saved the Soul of America
The story of the night James Brown kept the peace in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and delivered hope with an immortal performance
Since James Brown’s death in December 2006, the Godfather of Soul has received stirring tributes from coast to coast. Yet few have addressed his contribution in the darkest hour of the civil rights movement. Telling the untold story of his historic Boston Garden concert of 1968, The Hardest Working Man also captures the magnificent achievements that made Brown a revolutionary icon of American popular culture.
Acclaimed journalist James Sullivan begins his stirring account by depicting the racially charged climate of Boston in the hours after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death. Brown’s concert was slated for cancellation as police geared up for mass retaliation. After Brown butted heads with the mayor, the show was allowed to go on—and his emotional, electric performance was broadcast live on local television. Though rioting erupted in more than a hundred U.S. cities that night, Boston remained quiet. Not only bringing to life that transforming show, James Sullivan also charts Brown’s incredible rise from poverty to self-made millionaire and the pivotal voice behind the signature anthem “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” making The Hardest Working Man a tribute to an unforgettable concert and a rousing biography of a revolutionary musician.
Since James Brown’s death in December 2006, the Godfather of Soul has received stirring tributes from coast to coast. Yet few have addressed his contribution in the darkest hour of the civil rights movement. Telling the untold story of his historic Boston Garden concert of 1968, The Hardest Working Man also captures the magnificent achievements that made Brown a revolutionary icon of American popular culture.
Acclaimed journalist James Sullivan begins his stirring account by depicting the racially charged climate of Boston in the hours after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death. Brown’s concert was slated for cancellation as police geared up for mass retaliation. After Brown butted heads with the mayor, the show was allowed to go on—and his emotional, electric performance was broadcast live on local television. Though rioting erupted in more than a hundred U.S. cities that night, Boston remained quiet. Not only bringing to life that transforming show, James Sullivan also charts Brown’s incredible rise from poverty to self-made millionaire and the pivotal voice behind the signature anthem “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” making The Hardest Working Man a tribute to an unforgettable concert and a rousing biography of a revolutionary musician.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 12, 2011
Who doesn't like James Brown's music? Seriously, name me one person, I'd like to know.
This is an exploration of Brown's life and music in the context of the civil rights movement and in particular his famous April, 1968 concert in Boston, right after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I've read people whine that this book was a bad biography. But it never claimed to be thorough. I'd even say that this book is just as much about race relations after Dr. King's death as it is about James Brown's life. Sullivan gives us a feel for what was going on politically and culturally at the time, and how James Brown fit into that whole picture. Despite his pomposity and personal indiscretions, Brown was insanely influential and at times controversial both musically and politically.
Personally, I think this approach makes for a more interesting book than just a tradition cradle-to-grave biography. I'd really like to see what else Sullivan has written.
My favorite quote is the last two lines of the book: "In his personal life, Brown left a real mess. In public, however, Papa never did take no mess."
This is an exploration of Brown's life and music in the context of the civil rights movement and in particular his famous April, 1968 concert in Boston, right after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I've read people whine that this book was a bad biography. But it never claimed to be thorough. I'd even say that this book is just as much about race relations after Dr. King's death as it is about James Brown's life. Sullivan gives us a feel for what was going on politically and culturally at the time, and how James Brown fit into that whole picture. Despite his pomposity and personal indiscretions, Brown was insanely influential and at times controversial both musically and politically.
Personally, I think this approach makes for a more interesting book than just a tradition cradle-to-grave biography. I'd really like to see what else Sullivan has written.
My favorite quote is the last two lines of the book: "In his personal life, Brown left a real mess. In public, however, Papa never did take no mess."
March 11, 2013
Wow, an incredible book. Much more than the story of James Brown, it's also the story of the American Civil Rights movement. Page after page, I became more shocked and sickened at my total lack of knowledge about some of the towering figures of the movement and the events that shaped it. Why was I never taught ANY of this in school, as would befit its importance in our country's history... HIS story indeed. Racist AmeriKKKa began to be destroyed by this man, but it's not destroyed yet... and none of us should rest until it's gone for good. Gain some knowledge and save your soul... READ THIS BOOK!
November 22, 2016
fantastic idea, take a pivotal moment in both James Brown's career and in the civil rights movement in America and unpack it. "Good God!"
April 16, 2023
Der Soulmusiker James Brown hat viele Konzerte gegeben. Eines der bemerkenswertesten war das in Boston, nur einen Tag nach der Ermordung Martin Luther Kings. James Sullivan zeigt Browns Weg vom straffälligen Jugendlichen bis zum Musiker auf die Bühne der Bostoner Konzerthalle.
Auch wenn sich die Karriere von James Brown über Jahrzehnte erstreckt, kenne ich nur wenige seiner Lieder und weiß überhaupt wenig über ihn. Deshalb kann ich nicht sagen, wie nahe ihm diese Biografie kommt.
Das Konzert in Boston war zu einem besonderen Moment und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es viele Überlegungen gab, ob es überhaupt stattfinden oder auch welche Lieder gespielt werden sollen. Aber davon war wenig in der Beschreibung von James Brown zu erkennen. Ich fand die Schilderung sowieso ein bisschen oberflächlich. So, wie James Sullivan den Künstler darstellt, wirkt er oberflächlich und nur an einem interessiert: nämlich an sich selbst, seiner Wirkung auf andere und auch seiner Karriere.
Auch an die politische Einstellung von James Brown wurde nur kurz erwähnt, obwohl ich das Thema interessant gefunden hätte. James Sullivan hat eine Bemerkung gemacht aus der ich mir nicht sicher war, welche Einstellung James Brown hatte, oder ob ihm das Thema nur so weit interessierte, dass er sich auf Veranstaltungen blicken liess, um gut dazustehen. Hätte ich ein bisschen mehr über James Brown gewusst, hätte ich diese Bemerkung in den richtigen Zusammenhang bringen können, so aber konnte ich wenig damit anfangen.
Ich hätte gerne gewusst, wie ein echter Fan von James Brown dieses Buch beurteilen würde. Ich fand es oberflächlich und weder dem Mann gerecht, noch dem besonderen Konzert, das eigentlich im Vordergrund stehen sollte.
Auch wenn sich die Karriere von James Brown über Jahrzehnte erstreckt, kenne ich nur wenige seiner Lieder und weiß überhaupt wenig über ihn. Deshalb kann ich nicht sagen, wie nahe ihm diese Biografie kommt.
Das Konzert in Boston war zu einem besonderen Moment und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es viele Überlegungen gab, ob es überhaupt stattfinden oder auch welche Lieder gespielt werden sollen. Aber davon war wenig in der Beschreibung von James Brown zu erkennen. Ich fand die Schilderung sowieso ein bisschen oberflächlich. So, wie James Sullivan den Künstler darstellt, wirkt er oberflächlich und nur an einem interessiert: nämlich an sich selbst, seiner Wirkung auf andere und auch seiner Karriere.
Auch an die politische Einstellung von James Brown wurde nur kurz erwähnt, obwohl ich das Thema interessant gefunden hätte. James Sullivan hat eine Bemerkung gemacht aus der ich mir nicht sicher war, welche Einstellung James Brown hatte, oder ob ihm das Thema nur so weit interessierte, dass er sich auf Veranstaltungen blicken liess, um gut dazustehen. Hätte ich ein bisschen mehr über James Brown gewusst, hätte ich diese Bemerkung in den richtigen Zusammenhang bringen können, so aber konnte ich wenig damit anfangen.
Ich hätte gerne gewusst, wie ein echter Fan von James Brown dieses Buch beurteilen würde. Ich fand es oberflächlich und weder dem Mann gerecht, noch dem besonderen Konzert, das eigentlich im Vordergrund stehen sollte.
June 24, 2024
When i was a bit younger and still living in Amsterdam, i went to alot of concerts. One of the people i am most proud seeing was James Brown in Paradiso with my brother and a friend. Paradiso is one of the most beautifull venues for a concert and rarely small with 1500 places. We were standing there 3 hourd before the concert and managed to stand in touching distance of Mr. Dynamite, it was awesome to see him play the croud. When i found this book i just had to get it. The Hardest Working Man is set on April 5th, one day after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, a incredible sad day ofcourse, with lots of outrage, and violence. It was also another day for mister Brown as he was playing a concert. He got asked to play and the event was even broadcast on television so people wont riot and stay home. He got alot of shit for it, but it worked out really well. As James Sullivan the writer works his way throught the concert, he takes you throught the Journey and hardship of James Brown, the good and the bad, James Brown was famous for lots of things, and not his songs only. This was a good and insightfull look into a iconic event, and a great showman. And recomended if your curious about Brown, or the mid 60s when so much was going on.
December 27, 2024
A very strong, highly readable overview on the life and times of the great soul star. This book's strength is both the quality of the writing and it being a superb summary of James Brown's life.
It's not particularly indepth or comprehensive, but it is excellent as a basic introduction and account of Brown's music and life.
The book is centred on Brown's performance in Boston on the evening following the assassination of MLK jr, and details this superbly. The book then uses it as a springboard to outline other key moments in Brown's life.
Sullivan clearly has a lot of time and enthusiasm for Brown's music, but is also unafraid to state his various personal and professional faults.
If you're after a good, short introductory biography of this great artist, this book does the job superbly.
It's not particularly indepth or comprehensive, but it is excellent as a basic introduction and account of Brown's music and life.
The book is centred on Brown's performance in Boston on the evening following the assassination of MLK jr, and details this superbly. The book then uses it as a springboard to outline other key moments in Brown's life.
Sullivan clearly has a lot of time and enthusiasm for Brown's music, but is also unafraid to state his various personal and professional faults.
If you're after a good, short introductory biography of this great artist, this book does the job superbly.
March 6, 2022
I love James Brown and I didn't know about the Boston concert, which is a really interesting story.
But, I struggled through because of the writing. There were way too many people mentioned, sentences that ran for entire paragraphs, and quotes. The comparison to Dickens & the Pickwick Papers was baffling and I love Dickens.
Here's one example:
"While neighborhood leaders such as Bryant Rollins, Rev. Virgil Wood, Leroy Boston, and Mel King (who would go on to run a strong mayoral campaign against Kevin White's eventual successor, Ray Flynn in 1983) quickly took it upon themselves to calm the community, they also seized the opportunity to mount an unprecedented protest against unfavorable conditions for blacks in Boston. "We started talking to the young people" said YMCA director Bill Wimberly, " and we did not tell them what to do... We counseled them on bail procedures if they got arrested, if that way was going to be their choice."
7 people in 2 sentences, the whole parenthetical part needs to go, where'd Bill come from, and what does any of this have to do with James Brown?
Also, in a book that names every single person James Brown ever met, with a mini bio- 2 women are not named-
"The guest list was formidable- the widows of Dr.King and President John F. Kennedy....". they couldn't fit their names ? Coretta Scott King & Jacqueline Kennedy?
It should have been an article- much shorter, focused on the concert, and less tangents. When 215 pages is too long you know there's a problem.
But, I struggled through because of the writing. There were way too many people mentioned, sentences that ran for entire paragraphs, and quotes. The comparison to Dickens & the Pickwick Papers was baffling and I love Dickens.
Here's one example:
"While neighborhood leaders such as Bryant Rollins, Rev. Virgil Wood, Leroy Boston, and Mel King (who would go on to run a strong mayoral campaign against Kevin White's eventual successor, Ray Flynn in 1983) quickly took it upon themselves to calm the community, they also seized the opportunity to mount an unprecedented protest against unfavorable conditions for blacks in Boston. "We started talking to the young people" said YMCA director Bill Wimberly, " and we did not tell them what to do... We counseled them on bail procedures if they got arrested, if that way was going to be their choice."
7 people in 2 sentences, the whole parenthetical part needs to go, where'd Bill come from, and what does any of this have to do with James Brown?
Also, in a book that names every single person James Brown ever met, with a mini bio- 2 women are not named-
"The guest list was formidable- the widows of Dr.King and President John F. Kennedy....". they couldn't fit their names ? Coretta Scott King & Jacqueline Kennedy?
It should have been an article- much shorter, focused on the concert, and less tangents. When 215 pages is too long you know there's a problem.
March 16, 2012
I bought this for my brother Nate, but I decided to read it first.
The blurb on the back made it sound like the book was about, first and foremost, Brown's Boston concert on April 5, 1968, the day after MLK's assassination, and how James Brown prevented Boston and America from devolving into a giant race riot.
That was an exaggeration. There were a couple chapters about the Boston concert. The rest is about Brown's career in music and his message (e.g. black power isn't about guns and violence, it's about education, hard work, making money). James Brown clearly had enormous influence (after the Boston concert, he was called upon by other municipalities to fly in and try to calm communities on the verge of riot). Not everyone agreed with his message, though. It's easy to see why: James Brown made it. He was rich. He had a Lear jet. You don't want to tear down the system after you've got yours.
It is a somewhat interesting book, but it felt disjointed--it lacked flow. My brother, on the other hand, will probably thoroughly enjoy it for the details.
One interesting bit from later chapters: James Brown was so popular in Nigeria in the 1970s that young men carried his albums as a fashion statement. His record company claimed that they sold more albums in Nigeria than there were turntables. Of course, no way to know if that claim was true.
The blurb on the back made it sound like the book was about, first and foremost, Brown's Boston concert on April 5, 1968, the day after MLK's assassination, and how James Brown prevented Boston and America from devolving into a giant race riot.
That was an exaggeration. There were a couple chapters about the Boston concert. The rest is about Brown's career in music and his message (e.g. black power isn't about guns and violence, it's about education, hard work, making money). James Brown clearly had enormous influence (after the Boston concert, he was called upon by other municipalities to fly in and try to calm communities on the verge of riot). Not everyone agreed with his message, though. It's easy to see why: James Brown made it. He was rich. He had a Lear jet. You don't want to tear down the system after you've got yours.
It is a somewhat interesting book, but it felt disjointed--it lacked flow. My brother, on the other hand, will probably thoroughly enjoy it for the details.
One interesting bit from later chapters: James Brown was so popular in Nigeria in the 1970s that young men carried his albums as a fashion statement. His record company claimed that they sold more albums in Nigeria than there were turntables. Of course, no way to know if that claim was true.
July 28, 2010
This fills a big hole in the music book library. Until now, I haven't been aware of a truly scholarly book on James Brown, an important artist who bridges several generations of African-American music and philosophy while sounding and looking like none of them. There is absolutely nothing that sounds like Brown's amazing late 60s run of hits before or since, and I would only place Aretha Franklin as anywhere near in terms of his music's importance to the community that at which it was pitched and became a proxy for (as so much does when we discuss race).
So how does Sullivan do with this fertile bit of Americana? Quite well. He centers on the famous Boston concert in '68, but really the action of the book is about proving the moment's significance, including (for example) the history of race relations in Boston and the artist's ability to rise to the occasion. For the most part, Sullivan successfully makes this argument without stretching the case too far, as so many overwrought cultural historians can do. (Not a quote, thankfully: "In his screams were felt the pain of a generation.")
A great pick-up for someone interested in James Brown and his music, but if you're looking for a civil rights primer, this is not the spot.
So how does Sullivan do with this fertile bit of Americana? Quite well. He centers on the famous Boston concert in '68, but really the action of the book is about proving the moment's significance, including (for example) the history of race relations in Boston and the artist's ability to rise to the occasion. For the most part, Sullivan successfully makes this argument without stretching the case too far, as so many overwrought cultural historians can do. (Not a quote, thankfully: "In his screams were felt the pain of a generation.")
A great pick-up for someone interested in James Brown and his music, but if you're looking for a civil rights primer, this is not the spot.
September 24, 2013
On the night after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, mass race riots occurred in virtually every middle to large sized city in America. But not Boston. Because that night, James Brown performed a concert at the Boston Garden and was broadcast live to the surrounding area. He was electric and wholly captivating. He pled with the crowd for restraint, and they listened. Soul Brother No. 1 saved the soul of Boston that night, and many other souls who watched him on TV too.
This book isn't a definitive biography of the Godfather, but it does sketch out Brown's background, his early rise to stardom, and the climate of racial tension in the 1960's. It's a quick and enjoyable read. I might have preferred more detail, but I have no real complaints.
This book isn't a definitive biography of the Godfather, but it does sketch out Brown's background, his early rise to stardom, and the climate of racial tension in the 1960's. It's a quick and enjoyable read. I might have preferred more detail, but I have no real complaints.
September 23, 2015
Billed as the story behind James Brown’s concert in Boston held in the shadow of MLK’s assassination, but “The Hardest Working Man” is more of an overview of Brown’s career and work in the community. While the author does tell the story of the Boston show and does a good job of tying much of the information he presents to the show, it’s clear that the show just didn’t offer enough to write about to fill the entire book. If you’re a big JB fan (or want to learn more about him) this book will be right up your alley.
June 26, 2011
As one other reviewer mentioned, this book works great as a companion piece to the film of Brown playing in Boston after King's assassination. Rounding out that film's background information nicely. Without that film as a reference though, I'm not too sure how useful this book would be. Much of it does seem to rely on visual elements (I.e. When Brown helps sells Mayor Kevin White to the crowd.). Either way, it does provide an interesting snapshot of America at the time
December 6, 2014
a decent book on a great subject. it seems timely to read a book dealing with performance as a political tool in the wake of recent riots in new york, ferguson, and other cities.
james sullivan ties together strands of music history, civil rights and the politics of performance in a book that is not without errors (lee morgan a saxophonist? i had no idea). i enjoyed it for further background on james brown and boston's history of race politics.
james sullivan ties together strands of music history, civil rights and the politics of performance in a book that is not without errors (lee morgan a saxophonist? i had no idea). i enjoyed it for further background on james brown and boston's history of race politics.
January 15, 2016
The Hardest Working Man: How James Brown Saved the Soul of America by James Sullivan (Gotham Books 2008)(780.92) was not at all what I expected. I anticipated a biography of James Brown,and what I got was a book about James Brown's use of his influence in Boston just after the MLK Jr. assassination. My rating: 2/10, finished 10/24/11.
July 15, 2009
I could read anything about James Brown. But this is less expansive than its title, so don't get yourself too worked up. A valuable but not definitive addition to the Brown canon. Taking recommendations for something in the latter category.
January 2, 2010
A great companion to the video box set "I Got the Feelin': James Brown in the 60's." Not the greatest bio I've ever read, but when the subject is James Brown there is enough built-in badass to carry the momentum with ease.
December 8, 2024
James Browns civil rights contribution through the lenns of his 1968 Boston Gardens concert.
Martin Luther king is murdered, With violence and tension in the air, Enter stage left. James Brown ready to accept the job of keeping Boston safe through the power of funk.
Martin Luther king is murdered, With violence and tension in the air, Enter stage left. James Brown ready to accept the job of keeping Boston safe through the power of funk.
February 5, 2009
He's Superbad! He saved Boston.
September 9, 2010
A giving person, with incredible determination. Loved it.
January 7, 2015
Simply a fantastic read. A frenzied, frantic romp through a pivotal moment in the life of one of the 20th centuries biggest, most bombastic performers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews