Died On This Date (December 25, 2006) James Brown / The Godfather Of Soul
themusicsover James Brown
May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006
James Brown was an R&B performer like no other. So much so, that he earned the honor of having three equally fitting nicknames over the course of his career: The Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother Number One, Mr. Dynamite, and The Hardest Working Man In Show Business. Brown had a childhood that most either wouldn’t survive, would live on the streets or end up in prison. Brown ended up doing the two latter. At 16, he ended up imprisoned for armed robbery. While incarcerated, he sang and danced to entertain the guards and fellow inmates. In 1952, a young R&B performer by the name of Bobby Byrd happened upon Brown’s “act” while playing in a softball game against the inmates. Byrd was so impressed by Brown, that he helped arrange for his early parole and guided his career over the next twenty years. Over the course of his career, Brown not only released a staggering amount of hit records – the most R&B charting than anyone else in history – but also delivered one of popular music’s most dynamic concert experiences. His influence is undeniable…Prince, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson and M.C. Hammer are but a few that learned a thing or two from Brown. Records like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “Cold Sweat,” “I Got You, (I Feel Good),” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” are still played regularly on radio and at parties and generally never fail to fill up the dance floor. On December 25, 2006, James Brown died of congestive heart failure brought on by pneumonia. Not one to ever complain if he was ill – and oftentimes performed when he was – Brown’s death came as a shock to those who knew him. Even at 73, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business had concerts lined up in the following weeks.
What You Should Own
Dean Martin was a pop music, television and film star who was one of the biggest names in entertainment during the ’60s and ’70s. He and his pals, 
Vic Chesnutt was a respected singer-songwriter from the Athens, Georgia area. Chesnutt began writing songs when he was just five years old. He’s one of those rare talents that was rightfully called a songwriter’s songwriter. When he was 18, Chesnutt was involved in a car accident that left him confined to a wheelchair and in need of medical care through the rest of his life. His big break came in the late ’80s when R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe discovered his talent and produced his first two albums. Over the course of his career, he released over a dozen studio albums. In 1996, artists like Madonna, R.E.M., and the Smashing Pumpkins came together to record his songs for an album that was to help him with his skyrocketing medical bills. Ironically, he wasn’t eligible to collect the funds since he had medical insurance. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to cover the expenses. On December 24, 2009, Vic Chesnutt was reported to have been in a coma following an overdose of muscle relaxants. He died on Christmas Day at the age of 45.
Eartha Kitt was a star of stage and screen but also scored a few pop hits over the course of her lengthy career. Her exotic presence on film made her a pop culture icon who is beloved to this day. She is perhaps best remembered for her campy role as Catwoman on the ’60s television series, Batman. She also appeared in such films as St. Louis Blues and The Mark of the Hawk. Kitt made several recordings throughout her career, but it is her 1953 version of “Santa Baby” that is her most famous. She also had hits with “Where Is My Man” and “Under The Bridges of Paris.” Kitt continued to work on stage and film up until the final years of her life. On December 25, 2008, Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer at the age of 81.
