By Wallace J.A Inside Grenada correspondent Monday December 25,2006
JAMES BROWN, widely acclaimed as the founder of rap, funk and disco music – which has revolutionized and radicalized contemporary music – has died this morning at a hospital in Atlanta (USA) at the age of 73. He was suffering from pneumonia.
The ‘Godfather of Soul,’ as he was called, was well-loved by people around the world, especially by Afro-Americans and Afro-Caribbean nationals. His music helped to soothe racial tensions in America during the turbulent 60s – when civil rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers were killed - and helped to bridge the racial divide in ‘Segregated America.’ Brown has successfully influenced about four decades of black music.
His emergence from deep within the bowels of poverty to one of America’s top black musical artistes would have assisted in restoring pride to the millions of black people in the western hemisphere at a time when class and racial conflicts coupled with a social and cultural revolution - which characterized the 1960s - was sweeping through the region like a raging conflagration. He helped pave the way for black consumerism in America by showing black people that with hard work and determination, they too can get a piece of the American pie.
James Brown was also one of the best dancers that people around his generation had ever seen. His lightning-fast foot movement was his trademark and this has no doubt influenced many modern-day dance moves. He was well known by Grenadians who have ‘been around’ during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of his songs that stand out in the minds of Grenadians are: ‘Ah Feel Good’ and ‘Living in America’ which was used as the theme song for one of the famous ‘Rocky’ movies.
The legendary James Brown would no doubt be missed by millions of fans around the world. He was unquestionably one of the best singer and dancer of all times.
