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James Brown The Legend

As you know the big man has gone to another plane of existence and while others mourn him I believe we should celebrate his life. We must do thisbecause he achieved a lot during his 73 years on earth.

Well known for his dance moves and his preacher voice Mr Brown had over 100 hits in the music charts second only to Elvis Presley. However what makes James Brown greater is his stance for Africans, his passion for music, hispassion for life. He lived for a cause and not just the limelight. Mr Browncommented on social issues that was affecting blacks at the time.

He once said in an interview that he 'did 350 shows a year', which shows thathe lived for his music. I'm sure he didn't have to do it but he must haveloved entertaining. It was also said that his dance moves were so intense thatit lost him 7 pound a night! I guessed he didn't need the gym which is why onecould never really tell how old he was. Although he had his problems James Brown lived until he was 73 and looked younger than that, this shows howstrong he was. Now who else can really emulate him....Keep thinking...

He made the perm popular however still didn't get it twisted about who he isas a man. He is known as the Godfather of Soul as he is the founder of funk, disco and even rap, yes we can say that. His influence is immense just go backlisten to some of his records. With hits such as 'I feel good' (I'm singing itnow, lol), Sex Machine (get up) and Say it loud (I'm black and I'm proud). The latter song 'Say it Loud' just shows how passionate and proud he was to be anAfrican. This is real commendable at such a time when blacks was still gettinghell from the authorities, they were fighting (still are) their way up thesocial ladder. By the way he was so proud and believed his words so much thathe got a bunch of kids to sing the hook I'm black and I'm Proud' of whichmost of the kids were white or Asian, however hard to believe this is a fact. He explained why he is greater than any other musician James Brown said 'I've outdone anyone you can name - Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss. IrvingBerlin, he wrote 1,001 tunes. I wrote 5,500'

As well as someone who fought to uphold and promote social rights for Africans and other unfortunate people, James Brown is also a 'saviour' to others. He isknown to the US government, media etc as the 'Peacemaker' as when Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed in 1968 by a terrorist regime, black folkswere upset and rioting. Hell was about to break loose and James Brown he toldhis people to calm down on live broadcasts and in his shows. Well they canindeed thank James Brown for telling black folks for keeping the peace. Just imagine if he had told them otherwise!

OK the man wasn't a 'goody two shoes' as you might think as he had his own problems with drugs and relationships. Yet he came throug his problems it seems and lived such a long life as well as contributed to others. He was really 'caught between a rock and a hard place' as some whites and blacks alike didn't appreciate him in one way or another. Whites were suspicious that he was going to start a black revolution that could take over the country. Black revolutionaries didn't appreciate it that he would employ whites in his band as well as dining with the 'enemy' in the white house.

Once a living legend, now a legend James Brown will forever be remembered asthe Godfather of modern day music. For someone to be in the business for over 50 years and was still touring at 73 has to be 'out of this world'. James Brown's place is history has reserved way before he moved on. Many would lookon this as a loss however we should be happy that we had someone like this whodid so much for us. I definitely will not tell you half of what he did as I'mnot writing a book here. However he contributed a whole lot to us whether itis Funk music, hip hop, dance moves, charity etc. We should celebrate his lifebecause he was did his job well for 50 years and graced this place for a long 73 years and not many can say that. It seems his body wasn't strong enough tokeep up with his spirit.

How many of you can do what this man did for over 70 years and still looked slick! Many will try their endeavour best to do this but just can't. How many James Brown's are out there today? Mr Brown always had that swagger, we have to give it to him, he 'represented'.

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