
I remember seeing James Brown perform at the Boise River Festival when I was in high school. It was probably 10 years ago, on a stage in the middle of a park in Boise, at around 5-6pm. I can’t imagine that it was any less than 95 degrees in the shade, and I’m sure that it was closer to 110-115 up on stage, directly in the sun.
But there he was, all dressed up in a white suit, kicking ass and taking names. Yes, he did look miserable between sets-sweating, tired, eyes hurting from staring into the sun. But he brought it. He brought it like no one else could.
Elvis may or may not be dead, but at the least he isn’t doing concerts anymore; Jerry Garcia is gone; Phish are done touring and performing; and now James Brown is gone. Who is going to step up and fill that void? I’m not sure if there is enough Rock/Soul/R and B/Hip Hop Personality out there…
A public funeral service for “Godfather of Soul” James Brown at an 8,500-seat US arena bearing his name in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, has been set for Saturday.
Members of the public will also be able to view him at the New York theatre in which he made his debut.
Brown, who died on Monday of heart failure in Atlanta aged 73, will be buried later on Saturday in Augusta, said Brown’s agent, Frank Copsidas.
Earlier that day, his body will lie in state at James Brown Arena in Augusta, where the 1pm public service will be held, Copsidas said.
From the Ireland On-Line news service.