Whether you call him “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “Soul Brother Number One” or “The Godfather of Soul,” you’d be hard pressed to find someone who would argue that James Brown wasn’t one of the most talented entertainers of our time. Known for his funky basslines and gritty vocals, he blessed us with decades of hits, including “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” that artists still sample today.
But while he had lots of success in music, James Brown had a troubled personal life, which included struggles with addiction and run-ins with the law. Nearly 20 years after his passing on Dec. 25, 2006, we’re looking at the life of legendary funk and soul singer James Brown.
Southern Roots
James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. After his parents divorced when he was 5, Brown was sent to Augusta, Georgia, where he was raised by his great-aunt who was the madam of a brothel. The singer has openly talked about growing up in poverty and how having to work odd jobs as a kid for little money fueled his desire for success.
“I started shining shoes at 3 cents, then went up to 5 cents, then 6 cents. I never did get up to a dime. I was 9 years old before I got a pair of underwear from a real store; all my clothes were made from sacks and things like that. But I knew I had to make it. I had the determination to go on, and my determination was to be somebody,” he said.
Musical Beginnings
Brown was exposed to music as a child by neighbors who taught him to play instruments, including drums, piano, and guitar. He sang in the church choir and performed in local talent shows as a kid, but back then, he had dreams of becoming either a baseball player or boxer.
Troubled Teen
Before he found fame, Brown was a troubled teen who frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law. At 16, he was arrested for breaking into a car and sentenced to three years in prison. While in prison, Brown found his voice – literally, when he started singing with a gospel choir.
Meeting Bobby Byrd
While serving his time, Brown met Bobby Byrd. The two would go on to become friends and musical collaborators who made hits together for decades. After his release from prison, Byrd’s family looked after Brown, who joined Byrd’s group, The Gospel Starlighters. The group later changed its name to The Famous Flames. Their song “Please, Please, Please” caught the attention of record executives at King Records, which helped them land a record deal.
Byrd was the ultimate hype man, helping Brown make it funky with his soulful call and response.
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business
By the beginning of the 1960s, James Brown was writing songs and performing between five and six nights per week, which led to him being dubbed, “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.”
Fans loved the funk sound Brown pioneered which was rooted in rhythm, horn solos – and of course, his vocals that were just as powerful as a Sunday sermon.
Smooth Moves
Besides the funky baselines and gritty vocals in his music, fans kept coming back to see James Brown shows so they could watch him dance. Long before Michael Jackson or Usher, James Brown was known for captivating his audiences with his insane dance moves, making every performance an experience.
“When you heard James Brown was coming to town, you stopped what you were doing and started saving your money,” said his saxophonist, Pee Wee Ellis.
“Say It Loud”
In the late 1960s, James Brown released one of his biggest hits, which went on to become an empowering anthem during the Civil Rights Movement.
Inspired by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Brown released “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” in August 1968. The track became a Black American anthem with lyrics that continue to inspire people today.
“We’ve been buked and we’ve been scorned.
We’ve been treated bad, talked about;
As sure as you’re born;
But just as sure as it take two eyes to make a pair, huh;
Brother, we can’t quit until we get our share.”
Al Sharpton’s Mentor
In 1973, James Brown formed an unlikely friendship with the Rev. Al Sharpton, who he met when Sharpton was a young civil rights activist. Brown served as a mentor to Sharpton, who credits the singer with teaching him to get people to stand up and take notice.
“I learned from James Brown that you’re going to have to be dramatic in order to get people to see things that they are not inclined to see. Especially in New York where you are competing with Broadway lights and Times Square – we had to do extraordinary things to get attention,” Sharpton said in his documentary ‘Loudmouth.’
One of The World’s Most Sampled Artists
It’s hard not to move when one of James Brown’s songs comes on, which is probably why he’s one of the world’s most sampled artists. Even you weren’t around during his musical prime, you’ve heard his basslines running through your favorite hip-hop songs. “Funky Drummer,” one of his most sampled songs, can be heard in Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power,” Mos Def’s “Mathematics,” and LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
Even More Legal Trouble
After serving his time, Brown got back on the road to perform. But he found himself in trouble with the law again in 1998, when he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for carrying a deadly weapon at a public gathering, attempting to flee police, and driving under the influence of drugs. As TIME reported, Brown, who was high on PCP, went into an insurance company next to his office with a gun, accusing them of using his bathroom. He went on to lead the police on an interstate high-speed police chase from Georgia into South Carolina that ended when they shot out his tires.
Troubled Relationships
James Brown married four women in his lifetime – Velma Warren (1953 to 1969), Deidre Jenkins (1970 to 1981), Adrienne Rodriguez (1984 to 1996) and Tomi Rae Hynie (2002 to 2004)
Domestic violence was a common thread through his relationships. Adrienne Rodriguez had him arrested four times for assault during their relationship, including one incident that ended with her in the hospital. Brown was also arrested in 2004 on domestic violence charges against Tomi Hynie. Brown also had a brief romantic relationship with Tammi Terrell, who described being “savagely beaten” by Brown during their time together.
Loss of a Legend
James Brown passed away on December 25, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. The cause of death was reported as congestive heart failure – a result of complications related to a case of pneumonia. He was 73 years old.
Drama With the Will
After Brown’s death, there was drama with his will. In the document, he left most of his estate to his “I Feel Good Trust,” which was created to fund scholarships for children in South Carolina and Georgia. But six of his children, who were only left with insurance policies and the items inside the home took issue. His fourth wife, Tomi Rae Hynie and their son, James Brown II were left out all together.
Surviving family members filed lawsuits to have Brown’s will thrown out, leading to a 15-year battle that was finally settled in 2021.
