James Brown has passed on from this world.
There has never been another like him, nor shall there ever be another to take his place.
At the age of 15, and against the advice of others who warned of the dangers of attending an all Negro show (segregation still at that time the enforced law of the land), I joined four other fellow bandmates, purchased tickets for $3.50@, & attended the Sunday afternoon matinee performance of "The James Brown Revue" featuring "The Famous Flames" as well as a host of other Negro artists.
I have never in my life seen a performance which even comes close to that which we witnessed that day. The audience of approximately 5000 Negroes and 20-25 whites sat through 2 1/2 hours of the most blazing non stop entertainment possible. All of which choreographed, coordinated, staged, rehearsed, and performed live with frighteningly flawless precision. Sixteen piece orchestra with three drummers on three drumsets playing simultaneously...James Brown would perform one of his already numerous hits, slip backstage for what seemed 60 seconds, and reemerge with a completely total wardrobe change, the relentless primal soul gathering in intensity until the final grand finale...a breathless Brown telling all in attendance that everything he is he owed completely to G-d and to his audience, and then the music and dance literally built to a primal frenzy the likes of which is not possible to describe. All were on their feet, standing on the theatre seats; tiny Negro babies moving to the rhythm while their mothers held them, indeed...all of us "whiteys" dancing and clapping right along with them. It was the unparalleled and unsurpassed height of show business, and I can honestly state that The James Brown Revue still remains the criterion against which I judge all other popular music performances.
G-d truly smiled down upon James Brown, bestowing upon him distinctly unique gifts of musical showmanship. The lowly Negro abandoned boy who would have otherwise been a prison statistic, took his ambitious drive to better himself and maximized his gifts for the entire world's benefit. He billed himself as "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business", and this was no mere hype, for not only were his 3 hour performances more than most entertainers could physically endure, but Brown also toured non-stop across the U.S. and around the world for almost 60 years. He is equally well known and loved in Nigeria as is he in Japan and Sweden. Never did he turn his back on the U.S.A. . His lyrics were always stressing the positive behaviors required by all people for success.
Until we meet again, James Brown! Somehow my saying "thank you" isn't good enough, but hopefully you know what I mean.
p.s.-- don't sweat the "personal problems"....I've got quite a bit of luggage and old baggage full of my own...seems to accompany life here on this planet.