James Brown

James Joseph Brown Jr (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American recording artist and musician. One of the founding fathers of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century popular music and dance, he is often referred to as "The Godfather of Soul". In a career that spanned six decades, Brown profoundly influenced the development of several different musical genres. Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown moved to Augusta, Georgia, to live with relatives at the age of five.

After a stint in prison for robbery, Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. Joining an R&B vocal group called the Avons that later evolved to become The Famous Flames, Brown served as the group's lead singer. First coming to national public attention in the late 1950s as a member of The Flames with the ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a tireless live performer with singing group The Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. Brown's success peaked in the 1960s with the live album, Live at the Apollo, and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".

During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of The J.B.'s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". Brown also became notable for songs of social commentary including the 1968 hit, "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record for the duration of his life until his death in 2006 from congestive heart failure and pneumonia.

Links To Peel
Peel was an avid fan of James Brown's early material and would often play these on his shows. On his BBC Radio One show from 10 November 1999, Peel played James Brown's "Lowdown Popcorn" as his Peelenium 1970.

Peelenium

 * Peelenium 1970: Lowdown Popcorn

Other Shows Played
1970 1973 1978 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1988 1993 1996 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Others
 * 28 March 1970: Ain't It Funky Now (7") Polydor
 * 08 May 1973: Please Come Home For Christmas (LP – James Brown Sings Christmas Songs) Pye
 * 21 November 1978: Nature (Part 1) (single)
 * 16 August 1982: Superbad, Superslick Part 1
 * 28 July 1983: For Your Precious Love (album - Bring It On) Sonet
 * 30 January 1984: 'That Dood It (Double LP-Roots Of A Revolution)' (Polydor)
 * 13 May 1985: Talking Loud & Saying Nothing Part 2
 * 04 March 1986: Your Love (LP - Dead On The Heavy Funk 74-76) Polydor
 * 18 January 1988: She's The One (single) Urban
 * 05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): I'm A Soul Man
 * 24 April 1993: 'I Got Ants In My Pants (Part 1) (CD-Funky President: The Very Best Of James Brown Vol. 2)' (Polydor)
 * 17 November 1996: ‘Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose (2xCD – 40th Anniversary Collection ) Polydor
 * 10 November 1999: 'Lowdown Popcorn (2xLP-Sex Machine)' (Polydor) Peelenium 1970
 * 15 December 1999: 'Please Come Home For Christmas (CD-Funky Christmas)' (Spectrum)
 * 21 December 2000:  Please Come Home For Christmas (LP - James Brown Sings Christmas Songs)
 * 10 January 2001: I'm Shook (LP: It's A Mother) Polydor
 * 25 September 2001: Shuffling Sammy (78) Winner - Pig's Big 78 2001
 * 25 December 2001: 'Go Power At Christmas Time (CD-Funky Christmas)' (Spectrum)
 * 14 May 2002: Let A Man Come In And Popcorn (7” single) King
 * 17 December 2002: 'Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (LP - Funky Christmas)' (Spectrum)
 * 26 December 2002 (Radio Mafia): 'Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (CD-Funky Christmas)' (Polygram)
 * 26 June 2003: 'Let A Man Come In And Do The Popcorn Part One 7"' ( King)
 * 09 December 2003: 'Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved (7")' (King)
 * 18 December 2003: 'Please Come Home For Christmas' (LP - 'Funky Christmas')' (Spectrum)
 * 23 December 2003: 'Hey America (7 inch)' (King)
 * 2006 Festive Fifty: Get Up, I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part 1 & 2) (DJ's choosing their favourite tracks on Dandelion Radio before the Festive Fifty)