James Brown: The Godfather Of Soul

by James Brown, Bruce Tucker

The author recalls his rise from poverty and segregation to wealth, musical preeminence and political influence and discusses his important friendships with such celebrities as Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Muhammad Ali

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, African American, History, Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

James Joseph Brown, commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", was a two-time Grammy Award-winning and mutiple Grammy Award-nominated American entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. He was renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing and unique rhythmic style.

As a prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer, Brown was a pivotal force in the evolution of gospel and rhythm and blues into soul and funk. He left his mark on numerous other musical genres, including rock, jazz, disco, dance and electronic music, reggae and hip hop. Brown's music also left its mark on the rhythms of African popular music, such as afrobeat, jùjú and mbalax, and provided a template for go-go music.

Brown began his professional music career in 1953, and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through to the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s, noted especially for his activism on behalf of fellow African Americans and the poor. During the early 1980s, Brown's music helped to shape the rhythms of early hip-hop music, with many groups looping or sampling his funk grooves and turning them into what became hip hop classics and the foundations of this music genre.

Brown was recognized by a plethora of (mostly self-bestowed) titles, including Soul Brother Number One, Sex Machine, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please, The Boss, and the best-known, the Godfather of Soul.

Reviews

[Daniel Meza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit apprehensive to read this book, being a James Brown fan, and readers insisting this autobiography wasn't grimy enough.
After reading The Godfather of Soul, I am not sure what more was expected from readers?

This was a first hand account, from an icon, detailing his life and music, telling you all you needed to know, not necessarily what you wanted to know.
James Brown clearly has self-respect, and honors his legacy, so why would he write a book degrading himself too harshly.
He sticks to the music, his influence, and racial tensions along the way.
He gives respect to musicians and icons of every genre and race, while staying true to himself and where he fit in the whole thing.
He does fault himself for things he could have done better in life, and offers a few excuses on why he hadn't paid his taxes (a problem he was still facing when the book was completed, 1986), but more importantly, the words coming off the pages feel genuine, and are his own.

Sure he has many accolades to share, he's James Brown.
His influence on music covers all genres.
The chapters are concise and to the point which made for an easier read as well.
James Brown gives you his life without digging too deep, sharing his music and hardships with divorce, family, the business, and trying to stay ahead...but never did he ramble.
It was a fun read.
And I wanted to hear it from the man himself anyway, his philosophy on life, and ever present drive.
He embraces his ego, even hints at apologizing for it, but with this book, the man shares his remarkable journey through his eyes, and no one else.

[Nandi Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although JB was a lot of things to a lot of folks foremost being The Godfather of Soul, I also like to call him the one who made African Americans believe in themselves mostly for the first time. So I call him the Bearer of Black Pride and Self Esteem too. This book details his life as a preemie who was given up for dead if the midwife didn't keep trying to get him to breathe on his own. If it wasn't for her efforts, there would be NO Godfather of Soul. His parents split when he was 4, he grew up in a brothel, hustling and making things happen in pre/wartime Augusta Ga. In time, he turned to petty crime and ended up doing time in a reformatory in Toccoa and Rome, Georgia. When released, he lived with friends starting up a band called The Falcons, then in turn The Famous Flames. With them, they started tourning, and recorded their first record, "Please, Please, Please" became their first hit in 1956. When the group broke up, James undeterred kept on performing giving him the title "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" for over fifty years, he worked hard, built a show and revue band, a couple of radio stations, etc. He also faced some tragedy like losing his eldest son, Teddy in 1973. Not to be missed, very good book.

[Carol Storm · Rating 2 out of 5]

James Brown is a master showman and a great storyteller too. But the problem with this autobiography is that he's only interested in telling stories that make him look heroic, generous, courageous, and unselfish. I don't doubt he was a good man, but he had plenty of failings and flaws and this book doesn't even hint at them. It's a lot less soulful than his music!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teenager growing up with his music it was astounding to read about him and his trials. Some of this interesting readings needs to be done by some of our younger singers, rappers and students of music. He was a driving force aside from his upbringing and many many mistakes. Good read. May read twice.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think "perfunctory" (?) maybe is the word to describe this. James is one of the 3 or 4 most important people in the history of American Music, but this just isn't the most compelling read. I'm sure there's a great bio of him somewhere. It did make me replay a lot of great JB funk.

[Annika Cleeve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't buy this book. It is one of those biographies where the subject is heaven sent and can do no wrong. So misunderstood! Framed by the police, never inhaled, treated his women like queens. Basically propaganda. He was interesting no denying, but he wasn't this squeaky clean.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 1/3 is excellent! I really enjoyed reading about his childhood and growing pains (e.g. growing up in a whore house and being forced to drink mint whisky by his dad and aunt for kicks, almost be electrocuted to death, being a 16 year old in jail and hooking up with a fellow female inmate who was also working in the hospital or laundry room where he was while a security guard/prison officer watched the door). However, the majority of the remaining 2/3s made me re-evaluate any positive feelings I had about James Brown as it slowly evolves into a more oblivious, egotistical, and arrogant person as his career takes off (e.g. buying a private jet for himself and making his band drive separately to each show). I still love the man's music but it was definitely a rude-awakening to what he was really like underneath that fantastic hairdo of his.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Brown being James Brown, he paints a pretty rosy picture of himself throughout. Although he does get pretty frank about his late-seventies decline, triggered by the deaths of both his son and Elvis. (Those were the only two times anyone had ever seen James Brown cry.) Also, he really really really wants history to note that he had sex with Aretha Franklin.

I especially love the part where he used to believe in the health-bestowing properties of beer, guzzling it by the gallon to replenish his electrolytes after gigs.

[alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative even if extremely skewed... the Godfather goes to great lengths to put himself in the best light regardless of circumstance, and gives incredible background (which I suppose should be taken w/a grain of salt) on some of the greatest recordings of all time. Oh and some of it hilarious too. R.I.P. Soulbro #1.

[stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

totally worth it just hear james brown try to justify dumb behavior like not paying his taxes or cheating on his wives.

[Bjm Index]

4

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of life's few one offs. Superb.

[Joe Schilp · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Brown attempts to make some money while whitewashing his story. James describes himself as a hero to all who brought people together, an in many ways, he did; but he was also a very violent man who often picked on the weakest to abuse - women. That, he doesn't talk about in the book.

He talks about how he met Tammi Terrell when she was young and put him in his band, then fell in love with her, but that she eventually left to start a singing group, which is half true. She was 17 when she joined his band; he was 29. And he beat her to a bloody pulp, so she left in fear for her life. That's something Brown fails to mention. Just as he failed to mention that he once shoved a pregnant women down a flight of stairs and how he abused women regularly.

Brown also claims to hate drugs, firing band members who use drugs. But he fails to mention that he also abused drugs, notably Angel Dust at the time the book was written. And cocaine.

So Brown only tells part of the story here.

When it comes to the music, we learn a lot, about how he started with R&B and changed to soul, then funk, and that as he recorded songs, the people in management and at the label didn't understand it, which makes sense because Brown was basically inventing formats, and it's hard for people to understand new music.

So read this book to learn about the music, but realize that Brown doesn't talk about his violent side or all of his illegitimate children.

[Pandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ignoring JB's violence against his wives, and his later spell in prison, this is a great story. Nicely written, and covering not just the music and personal life, but illustrating much of the social background of the times too. Quite touching is the author's experience of racism - not from a social justice point of view, but just documenting some of the backdrop, and JB's efforts to bring his music to all classes and races.
His naiveté in talking about his tax battles, and business success and failure, is also quite touching.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in 1986 but it is an interesting read about James Brown's life up to then.

[Wendy Zuern · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's rare when I read a music bio that makes me dislike the musician-but this book has made it hard to listen to James Brown and I wish I hadn't read it.