How the Grinch Stole a Music Legend

James Brown - It's a Man's Man's Man's World (mp3) - Live at the Apollo [1968] (Polydor 1968)


While 12/25 is almost always associated with good memories, 12/25/06 will forever be the day that modern music lost one of its greatest creative minds. Let's look past all the drug use, spousal abuse and general tomfoolery of the second half of his life and concentrate on his immense contribution to modern popular music. Not only was he a crucial key in bridging the race gap with his infectious music in the 50s and 60s, but also was leading the charge in the mutation of R&B to soul and later, soul to funk. Not to mention being an unknowing godfather of hip-hop since he has been sampled, oh I don't know, 234675298476209947093246 times since the early 80s. And let's not forget his impact on African and other non-American musicians as he toured and distributed his records across the world influencing young artists of every nationality (some of the most exciting world music is the combination of traditional sounds infused with James Brown's funk). Yes, he made some... ahem, many... bad decisions once leaving the spotlight in the very late 70s, but his impact on the popular music may never be paralleled, and we really owe him a hearty thank you for getting us out of our seats and onto the dance floor, you know, Gettin up offa that Thang.

I'd keep an eye on Soul Sides for a memorial and quality mp3s.