For some reason, I just couldn't believe it at first. Later, someone mentioned that yet another of the members of the Blues Brothers cast is gone. I hadn't realized how many of them were gone.

James Brown is definitely one of my favorite artists. I used "The Payback" to teach the theme of revenge for the second half of "The Odyssey". (Listen to it carefully.) Soul music has suffered a loss, but we still have that man's music to make our feet and souls move. I heard several tributes, and I discovered even more gems from him, and I heard the samples from some hip hop songs.

I'm honestly not too sad because the local news reported that "Mrs. Brown" was not legally married to him. She was still married to a first husband when she married JB. She got the first marriage annulled, but they didn't take the time to get legally married in the eyes of God or the law. BTW, Georgia does not recognize common law marriages that were created after 1/1/97, and they were married in '01.

She said JB took time to correct people if they didn't call her "Mrs. Brown".... But they didn't take time go to the courthouse or the minister's house to make her the real "Mrs. Brown". :mad: There should be some sympathy in this tragic time (and during the holidays!), but there should have been some planning, too. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.

ETA: But I did forget that their home was in SC. Maybe they considered their union a common law marriage in SC. Probably not since the lawyer is making a big deal.

So true.

RIP the hardest working man in show business.:(

RIP...he wasnt even that old. and i heard he was supposed to even perform new years. crazy.

He was scheduled to perform @ BBKing's here in NYC this weekend.

His body will lie in state @ The Apollo Theatre in Harlem tomorrow from 1-8pm.

RIP James Brown. You've worked hard. Enjoy your retirement in Heaven.

Some rather interesting Op-ed cartoons from around the nation:
http://cagle.com/news/JamesBrown/main.asp

RIP

The pictures of the lines at the Apollo Theatre to see him lie in repose say a lot about the man and his career.

True.
However, IMHO, there are people who do things that just to be able to say that they were there.

Just why do 10000 people show up at a store on Black Friday in order to be on line for a product of which only 150 are in stock?

You're right, but take 10 or 20% out and it's still pretty impressive.

this morning on NPR there was a really good segment on James Brown:

James Brown In His Own Words: Democracy Now! Airs A Never-Before-Broadcast Interview with the Godfather of Soul from 1980 on Race & The Music Industry