One : The Life and Music of James Brown (9781101561102) (62 page)

I am indebted as well to the staffs of: The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; National Archives, College Park, Maryland; the Schomburg Library, Harlem, New York; Jerome Robbins Dance Division and the Billy Rose Theater Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York, New York. In South Carolina: The South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston; South Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina, Columbia; the Strom Thurmond Institute and Department of Special Collections, Clemson University, Clemson. In Georgia: The Augusta-Richmond Public Library, Augusta; Department of Special Collections, Reese Library, Augusta State University, Augusta; Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta; Auburn Avenue Research Library, Atlanta; Georgia Newspaper Project, University of Georgia Main Library, Athens; Georgia Archives, Morrow; Toccoa–Stephens County Public Library, Toccoa; Washington Memorial Library, Macon.

Other collections essential to this book: Southern Historical Collection and the Southern Folklife Collection, Wilson Library,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota; Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing,” Brown said. For everything else, a good editor is the solution, and I am lucky to have a great team at Gotham Books: William Shinker believed in
The One
from the first, and my editor Jessica Sindler helped me stay on the good foot. Charles Rappleye got this ball rolling, and I properly owe him another drink. Paul Bresnick is a master of rapid response, an excellent sounding board, and one fine agent, too.

Grits and gratitude to the friends and family who helped me and made this book possible. Thanks to Harold and Sally Burman; Bill and Rita Mangione-Smith; Linda Breggin and Michael Vandenbergh; Leann Van Wyck McLeod and Geary McLeod; Mark Schone; Brandi Beck; Carol Mangione. Peter Herdrich is a true patron of the arts and one of the good guys; Dan Spector and Richard Goff continue to help me find where the first beat is. Madeleine Echo showed me the right way to dance.

Most of all, thanks to my partner and wife, Jenny Burman. She kept me on the road, and when I was lost in Georgialina, she guided me home. I can’t repay all her help and sacrifice. It’s a good day when I can live up to her love.

INDEX

Acuff, Roy, 58, 322, 323

Agnew, Spiro, 267

Ahehehinnou, Vincent, 282

“Aint It Funky Now,” 232, 262

Alaimo, Steve, 104, 106, 186–187

Ali, Muhammad, 194, 201, 206, 226, 280, 300, 302–304

Allen, Jeff, 353

“America is My Home,” 194–195, 206–208, 212–214

American Bandstand
, 105, 110, 145–146

American International Pictures (AIP), 279, 290

Anderson, James “Big Red,” 27

Anderson, Vicki, 221, 332

“Answer to Mother Popcorn (I Got a Mother For You),” 221

Apollo Theater, Harlem, 92–94, 96, 108–115, 117, 165, 173–175, 251, 253, 375–376

Arbus, Doon, 124–125

Archer, J. W., 84, 91

Atwater, Lee, 346–348

Austin, Emma, 23, 34, 366

Austin, Leon, 28, 31, 317, 320, 374

Avalon, Frankie, 133

Avons, the, 54

Aykroyd, Dan, 327–328, 350, 351

“Baby, You’re Right,” 105

Bailey, Mildred, 29

Ballard, Hank, 73, 79, 209, 221, 230, 231, 270

Bambaataa, Afrika, 283, 336

Baraka, Amiri (LeRoi Jones), 204, 242, 263

Barretto, Ray, 301

Bart, Ben, 80–81, 93, 102–103, 108–109, 121, 123, 131, 159, 160, 182–184, 207, 214

Bart, Jack, 103

Basie, Count, 124

Basil, Toni, 360

Bass, Ralph, 73–76

Baylor, Elgin, 203

Baylor, Johnny, 215

Beach Boys, 146

Beatles, the, 305

Belafonte, Harry, 155, 318

Belushi, John, 327–328

Bennett, Bobby, 92, 96, 139, 148

Berry, Chuck, 146, 169

“Bewildered,” 105

Binder, Steve, 146–147

Black Arts Movement, 262, 263

Black & Brown Stamps, 224, 227–228

Black Caesar
(movie), 278–280, 289

Black Panthers, 179, 208–210

Black Power, 154, 156, 178, 200, 212–213, 218, 226

Black Sabbath, 238

Blacula
(movie), 278

Bland, Bobby Blue, 167, 169–171

Blavat, Jerry, 120–121

Blaxploitation genre, 277–280

“Blueberry Hill,” 169

Blues Brothers, 327–329

Blues Brothers, The
(movie), 328, 334, 338

Bobbit, Charles, 164, 187, 191, 210, 238, 268, 271, 280, 290, 296–298, 316–317, 325, 374–375, 383

Bocelli, Andrea, 364

Bond, Julian, 266

Bongo, Omar, 303–304, 316–317

Bootlegging, 60

Bowie, David, 311, 353

Boys Industrial Training Institute, Toccoa, 47–52

Bradley, Alford “Judge,” 371, 384

Bradshaw, Tiny, 102, 104

Brailey, Troy, 269

Brando, Marlon, 125, 155

Brantley, Clint, 61–64, 66, 67, 71, 73, 74, 80, 82, 123

“Bringing Up the Guitar,” 220

Brooke, Edward, 268

Brown, Adrienne Lois Rodriguez “Alfie,” 333–334, 340–343, 346, 348, 350–351, 381

Brown, Buster, 150–152

Brown, Cecil, 262

Brown, Chuck, 329

Brown, Darryl, 292, 378

Brown, Deidre Jenkins “Deedee,” 245–246, 288, 292, 293, 320, 334, 375

Brown, Dessie, 92, 122

Brown, H. Rap, 208, 213, 277

Brown, James

abusive relationships with women, 123, 138–139, 157, 341, 342, 345, 368

Adrienne and, 333–334, 340–343, 346, 348, 350–351

in Africa, 246–249, 300–304, 318, 321

Alaimo and, 106, 186–187

album covers of, 145, 183–184, 282

Ali and, 302

on
American Bandstand
, 105, 145–146

as anti-drug spokesman, 260, 315

at Apollo, 92–94, 96, 108–113, 115, 165, 173–175, 251, 253

arrests of, 41–42, 318, 342, 371

audience reactions to, 125–126, 140–141, 150, 219

Augusta homes of, 246, 292, 293, 314, 315, 324–325, 339, 363, 386–388

Augusta riot and, 243–244

autobiography of, 97–98, 339

awards, 366–368

Bart and, 80–81, 103–104, 108–109, 121, 159, 182, 214

Betty Jean Newsome and, 124, 157–158

birth of, 7, 8

black criticism of, 207–210, 213, 269–273, 283

Black Panthers and, 208–210

Boston Garden show, 189–193

boxing and, 34–36

Brantley and, 71–72

as businessman, 101–102, 218, 224–228, 252, 276

Byrd and, 51–56, 60

cape act of, 143–150, 152, 192, 323, 367

Carter and, 315, 329

childhood of, 9, 13–14, 17, 21–26, 31–32, 295–296, 351, 354, 388

children of, 57, 120, 287–289, 292–294, 353–354, 362, 384, 386

circle of protectors of, 129, 144–145, 164, 296–297

civil rights movement and, 97–100, 154–156

Clinton and, 352–353

Cremona Trio formed by, 29

crossover success of, 137–138

as dancer, 26, 177–178, 220, 331, 352, 355–361, 367

death of, 375

death of son and, 288–289

Dehn on, 151–152

disco and, 309–310, 312

dog of, 293–294

early jobs of, 31, 36, 51, 56, 57, 59

early singing by, 26, 28

on education, 179–180, 274–275

electrocution incident and, 32

estate of, 384–386

family of, 7–9, 22–24

father and, 23, 43, 326–327

finances of, 71, 101, 104, 110–111, 124, 137, 162, 163, 215, 228, 256–259, 275–276, 284, 286–287, 313–315, 332, 339, 352–353, 371, 384–386

first marriage, 57, 92, 245

the Flames and, 56–76, 79–82, 84–96, 106, 116–118, 120–121, 128–129, 131, 133–136, 144, 147–149

football and, 53

fourth marriage, 362

in gang, 24

as “Godfather of Soul,” 280

gospel music and, 49, 50, 54, 113–114

at Grand Ole Opry, 321–323

guns and, 122–124, 129, 130, 351

hairstyle of, 66, 126–128, 152, 159, 208–209, 368, 374

health of, 9, 183, 353, 354, 363, 369–370, 372, 374

Humphrey and, 180, 204, 205, 215

IRS investigation of, 284, 286–287, 314–315, 320, 334, 352, 354

Jackson and, 366–367, 378

JBs and, 240–242, 246–251, 305

King and, 188–193

King Records and, 72–79, 83–84, 86, 95, 104, 110, 111, 120, 130–135, 161–164, 172, 181, 184, 210, 229–231, 256–257, 259, 281

King’s birthday and, 268–270

Lee and, 101, 126

Little Richard and, 67–68

Live at the Apollo
, 111–112, 115, 117, 120–121, 126, 130, 133, 145

Live at the Apollo. Volume II
, 174–175

Madison Square Garden debut of, 150–152

management style of, 128–129, 253–255

McRae and, 127–128, 158–159

mother and, 13, 22, 183, 326

in movies, 328, 334, 338

movie scores and, 278–280, 290

music lessons and, 28

names of, 49, 356

Nathan and, 74–75, 86, 110–111, 130–133, 145, 161–164, 183–184, 313

New York home of, 124–125

Nixon and, 215, 267–272, 283–286

Nolen and, 334–336

overseas trips, 160, 178, 189, 196–201, 246–249, 300–304, 318, 321, 372–373

Pacesetters and, 231–240

parole and pardon of, 348, 354

paternity trial and, 227

Pavarotti and, 364–365

PCP (angel dust) use by, 332–333, 340–345, 350, 351, 353, 363–364

physical appearance of, 21, 24, 25, 126–127, 302

police chases and, 342–344

Polydor and, 257–260, 313–314, 318, 320, 329, 336, 349

presidential election (1968) and, 202–206

presidential election (1972) and, 267–268, 270–271

Brown, James (
cont.
)

Presley and, 381–382

in prison, 43, 46–52, 72, 344–346, 348, 382

publicity and, 104–105

radio station ownership and, 182, 203, 270–271, 283–284, 317–320

Reagan and, 329

religion and, 28, 325, 364

in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 339

rumors about, 104–105, 159–160, 183

at school, 25–26

second marriage, 245–246, 320

services for, 375–379

sexuality issue, 159–160

Sharpton and, 39, 294–296, 346, 371, 374–378

songs of (
see
specific songs)

Soul Generals and, 368–369, 378–379

statue in Augusta of, 370–371

Susskind and, 221–224

Swanee Quintet and, 27

on
The T.A.M.I. Show
, 146–149, 152, 360

teeth and, 126–127, 264, 374

third marriage, 334

Tomi Rae Hynie and, 362–364, 367–368

typical road trip of, 185–187

Universal Attractions and, 80, 90, 91, 102–104, 182

Vietnam trip, 194–201

white audiences and, 90, 105, 137, 147, 212, 219, 330, 331, 338

will of, 384

Wilson and, 160–161

work ethic of, 109, 128

Brown, James II, 362

Brown, Jim, 267, 280

Brown, Joe (Gardener), 1, 7, 9, 13–17, 19, 22–24, 28, 31, 32, 43, 131, 200, 201, 245, 268, 288, 295–296, 326–327

Brown, Larry, 57, 292

Brown, Mary Florence, 227

Brown, Robert, 267–271, 284

Brown, Roy, 29, 56, 67

Brown, Ruth, 99

Brown, Susie Behling, 7–9, 13, 22–23, 183, 326, 363

Brown, Teddy, 57, 287–289, 294

Brown, Terry, 57, 292

Brown, Tomi Rae Hynie, 362–364, 367–368, 375, 377, 378

Brown, Velma Warren, 57, 92, 245, 287, 386

Brown, Venisha, 292, 293

Brown, Yamma, 292, 293, 320, 353–354, 375

Brown-Thomas, Deanna, 8–9, 292, 293, 320, 326, 352, 353–354, 374, 375, 378

Bryant, William Cullen, 4

Burton, Nelson, 78

“Butter Your Popcorn,” 221

Butts, David, 138–139

Byrd, Bobby, 48, 50–56, 60, 68, 70, 72, 75, 80–82, 91–93, 110, 128–129, 132, 148, 160, 167, 208, 212, 231–233, 237–238, 240, 241, 245, 252, 259, 291, 311, 345, 346, 379

Byrd, Jimmy, 191

Byrd, Robert, 323

Byrd, Zarah, 50, 52–53, 54

Caldwell, Erskine, 29

Calloway, Cab, 328

Campbell, Joseph, 142

Camp Gordon, Augusta, 29

Cannon, David, 371, 384, 385

Carlos, John, 280

Carmichael, Stokely, 154, 156, 206, 211

Carroll, Richard, 127

Carson, Johnny, 260, 356

Carter, James Edward III, 36, 41

Carter, Jimmy, 260, 315, 329

Chamberlain, Wilt, 267

Chandler, Gene, 139

Charles, Ray, 110, 114, 274, 322, 323, 339

Chesimard, JoAnne, 319

Chess, Leonard, 72–74

Chitlin circuit, 80, 89, 93, 99, 102, 117, 126, 214, 226, 322

Christian, Amy, 372–373

Civil Rights Movement, 97–100, 153–156, 311

Clapton, Eric, 335

Clark, Dick, 277

Cline, Patsy, 132

Clinton, Bill, 352–353

Clinton, George, 304–307

Cochrane, Wayne, 123

Cohen, Larry, 278, 279, 290

“Cold Sweat,” 172–173, 369

Coleman, Cornelius “Tenoo,” 168

Collins, Phelps “Catfish,” 230, 236–241

Collins, William “Bootsy,” 164, 230, 231, 233, 235–241, 247–251, 262, 305–307, 345, 379

Coltrane, John, 242

Common Ground
(Lukas), 190

Connor, Bull, 98

Connor, Charles, 64–69, 86, 94, 118

Cooke, Sam, 94, 99, 109, 339

Copacabana, New York, 250–251

Copsidas, “SuperFrank,” 371, 384

Corley, Alfred, 89

Cracker Party, 39–42

Cremona Trio, 29

Crocker, Frankie, 316

Cruz, Celia, 301

Daley, Richard, 213

Dallas, Albert “Buddy,” 339, 341, 348, 352, 364, 371, 372, 378, 384

Daniel, Gloria, 363

Davis, Angela, 271, 280, 318

Davis, J. C., 86–90, 92–95, 106, 116, 357, 358, 379

Davis, Miles, 176, 238

Davis, Ossie, 277