Myriad Muzik

James Brown

James Brown: “Live At The Apollo” 1962

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Soul singer James brown recorded his unforgettable ‘Live At The Apollo’ album today, 56 years ago. The album was listed at #24 in the Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Brown recorded this album at his own expense. The Famous Flames (Bobby Bennett, Bobby Byrd and Lloyd Stallworth), Brown’s vocal group, played an important role in ‘Live at the Apollo’ even though they are not credited in on the album. King Records initially opposed releasing this album and argued that a live album featuring no new songs, would not be profitable. ‘Live at the Apollo’ turned out to be a rapid seller and spent 66 weeks on the Billboard Top Pop Album chart, peaking at #2. Over the course of his career, Brown recorded several more albums at the Apollo.

 

Today in Music History: The Motortown Revue 1962

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Today, 56 years ago, the first night of a two month Motown Records package tour, The Motortown Revue, started in Washington, DC. Early 1960 tours included performances from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Barrett Strong and The Contours as headlining acts. Some of the then-second-tier artists who were given the chance to improve their skills included Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and The Temptations. Occasionally, even non-Motown performers such as Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Shirelles and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles were featured on the tours. In the early years of the Motortown Revue, most venues were situated along the “chitlin circuit” in eastern and southern America. Racism at the time, was an issue and African American performers faced threats and attacks from local white residents. Later tours from the mid 60’s branched out to the entire US and later the rest of the world as well.

 

James Brown: The Mike Douglas Show 1969

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James Brown was not only a commanding musical voice by the time he was in his 30’s but an extraordinary African-American personality. Although ridiculed and feared sometimes, he was an inspiration, role model and a figure important enough to be associated with national politics.

Brown was determined to be somebody after he was revived by an aunt in a country shack in the piney woods outside Barnwell, South Carolina, on May 3, 1933, nearly stillborn. According to the man himself, he stated: “JAMES BROWN is a concept, a vibration, a dance,” he told us recently. “It’s not me, the man. JAMES BROWN is a freedom I created for humanity.”

 

James Brown on the TAMI Show 1964

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Watch the iconic performance from the hardest working man in show business. James Brown and one of his earlier bands ‘The Famous Flames’ tear down the TAMI Show, and have a young Mick Jagger watching nervously back stage and second guessing his set as the Rolling Stones were scheduled to close out the show after James’ performance.