Read One : The Life and Music of James Brown (9781101561102) Online
Authors: R. J. Smith
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