James Brown
By Mitch Berg
James Brown dead at 73:
Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid- footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowies “Fame,” Princes “Kiss,” George Clintons “Atomic Dog” and Sly and the Family Stones “Sing a Simple Song” were clearly based on Browns rhythms and vocal style.
“He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown,” entertainer Little Richard, a longtime friend of Browns, told MSNBC. “A great treasure is gone.”
Sad icing on the sundae of a most dismal Christmas.
