The Life Of James Brown
by Geoff Brown

Brown on Brown

Nothing can overstate the shock of losing James Brown on 25 December 2006. That the man who made a point of bringing gifts to the ghetto at that time of year was taken from his family and friends on Christmas Day is a cruel irony indeed. That he was also the genius behind some of this world’s most important music, and attitudes towards making it, but is largely remembered for a clutch of hits and showbiz pitfalls/stereotypes is cruelly ignorant. For those familiar with Brown’s story, there may not be a great deal here. Those who can only see the capes, Sex Machinery and wife-beating should grab this and learn just what an important and unbelievable figure Brown was, even as early as the mid-50s. Author Geoff Brown’s brilliance lies in letting key players speak for themselves. Instead of paraphrasing or re-telling, large paragraphs are given over to the likes of Bobby Byrd, helping make these bygone times that bit more tangible. Brown’s fall and later rebirth on the live stage, however, may be too quickly done, while there’s frustratingly little of the likes of Marva Whitney. A potted discography points the way to the essentials, though, making this a prime place to begin Brown-nosing.

ISBN 9781846099588

Reviewed by Jason Draper
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