Born in 1933 in South Carolina, James Brown began his musical career in the 1950s as a gospel singer before moving into R&B and soul.
James Brown is known for his powerful voice, charismatic stage presence and unique musical style, which combines elements of funk, soul, R&B and jazz. He has also been dubbed the “Godfather of Soul” for his major contribution to the evolution of soul music.
During his career, James Brown created many legendary hits, such as “Daddy's Got a Brand New Bag”, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Sex Machine”.
His songs are so legendary that it only takes a few seconds to get them into your head, as this Renault Clio commercial shows.
He also had a great influence on popular music, inspiring generations of musicians to come.
In addition to his musical talent, James Brown was also a social activist and civil rights campaigner. He used his music to encourage peace and harmony between communities, and also worked to help disadvantaged people across the country.
James Brown died in 2006 at the age of 73.
The album Live at the Apollo
Released in 1963, “Live at the Apollo” was recorded during a concert given by James Brown at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. The album was produced by James Brown himself, and became one of the best selling albums of his career.
“Live at the Apollo” is considered a milestone in soul music history, as it allowed James Brown to prove his talent on stage, capturing the energy and emotion of his live performances. The album includes fiery versions of some of James Brown's most famous songs, such as “Try Me,” “Please Please Please” and “I'll Go Crazy.”
The album also received critical acclaim for its production quality, which captured the electric atmosphere of the evening and allowed listeners to feel the emotion and energy of the live performance.
“Live at the Apollo” was also important to popular music as a whole, as it helped popularize the sound of soul music and influenced generations of musicians to come.
Lost Someone
The version of “Lost Someone” recorded during the “Live at The Apollo” concert is considered one of the album's highlights. James Brown's performance on this song is absolutely electrifying, with screams, moans and ad-libs adding to the intensity of the song. At one point, he falls to his knees on stage screaming the name of the woman he lost, creating a moment of pure emotion that has gone down in music history.
The song “Lost Someone” is also known to have influenced many soul and R&B artists, including Mick Jagger, who often cites this performance as the ultimate inspiration for stage acting.
Where to listen to Live at the Apollo?
- Listen to Live at the Apollo on Spotify
- Listen to Live at the Apollo on Deezer
- Listen to Live at the Apollo on Youtube