James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, died on December 25, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 73 years old. Because of his lively performances, Brown was also known as the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business. He released his first song 50 years ago.
The singer was one of the first artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio. He won three Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1968, his hit song “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud” became an unofficial anthem of the civil rights movement.
Hollie Farris, who played trumpet with Brown for 26 years, says that Brown’s band may continue to play: “We want to honor him and carry on his legacy.”