James Brown

from Barnwell, South Carolina, USA

Artwork for Rocky IVImage of James Brown

Biography

James Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter, eventually referred to as "The Godfather of Soul"(GFOS). Brown started singing in gospel groups and worked his way on up. He has been recognized as one of the most iconic figures in the 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing. He was also called "the hardest-working man in show business".

Brown began his professional music career in 1956 and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was also a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s.

Timeline

2026Aged 93

  • Poster for The Godfather of Soul

    Self (archive footage)

2025Aged 92

  • Poster for Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

    Self (archive footage)

2023Aged 90

  • Poster for Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

    Self (archive footage)

2022Aged 89

  • Poster for Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

    Self (archive footage)

2021Aged 88

  • Poster for Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

    Self (archive footage)

2020Aged 87

  • Poster for The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

    (archive footage)

2019Aged 86

  • Poster for Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

    Self - Singer (archive footage)

  • Poster for The Apollo

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Africa Rising

    Self - Musician (archive footage)

2018Aged 85

  • Poster for 1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond

    Self (archive footage)

2016Aged 83

  • Poster for A Tale of James Brown

    Self (archive footage)

2014Aged 81

  • Poster for Finding the Funk

    Self

  • Poster for Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message

    Self

  • Poster for The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Get On Up

    Songs

2013Aged 80

  • Poster for Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day

    Self (archive footage)

2012Aged 79

  • Poster for Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’

    Self (archive footage)

2011Aged 78

  • Poster for The Real Rocky

    Self (archive footage)

2009Aged 76

  • Poster for Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America

    Self

  • Poster for Soul Power

    Self (archive footage)

2008Aged 75

  • Poster for James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Pavarotti The Duets

    Self

  • Poster for James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968

    Self

  • Poster for James Brown Live At The Apollo '68

    Self

2007Aged 74

  • Poster for The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for James Brown: Living in America

    (Unknown)

2006Aged 73

  • Poster for Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party

    Self

  • Poster for George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein

    Self (archive footage)

2005Aged 72

  • Poster for Rock 'N' Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits

    Self (archive)

  • Poster for Robots

    Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Poster for Live 8

    Self

2004Aged 71

  • Poster for TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for James Brown: Body Heat

    Self

  • Poster for James Brown: Live

    Self

2003Aged 70

  • Poster for The Giants of Black Music

    Self

  • Poster for Paper Chasers

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for James Brown: Soul Survivor

    Self

2002Aged 69

  • Poster for It's Black Entertainment

    Self (archive footage)

  • Poster for Undercover Brother

    Self

  • Poster for The Tuxedo

    James Brown

  • Poster for Beat the Devil

    Mr. James Brown

2001Aged 68

  • Poster for The UB40: Story of Reggae

    Drummer

  • Poster for Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular

    Self

1999Aged 66

  • Poster for James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues

    Self

1998Aged 65

  • Poster for Blues Brothers 2000

    Cleophus James

  • Poster for Holy Man

    James Brown

1996Aged 63

  • Poster for When We Were Kings

    Self

1995Aged 62

  • Poster for Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends

    Self

1993Aged 60

  • Poster for RapLine

    Self

1992Aged 59

  • Poster for Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution

    Songs

1991Aged 58

1990Aged 57

  • Poster for Jacob's Ladder

    Songs

1989Aged 56

  • Poster for Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

    James Brown

1987Aged 54

  • Poster for James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul

    Self

1985Aged 52

  • Poster for James Brown - Live At Chastain Park

    Himself

  • Poster for Rocky IV

    The Godfather of Soul

1983Aged 50

  • Poster for Doctor Detroit

    Bandleader

  • Poster for When the Music's Over

    Self

1981Aged 48

  • Poster for James Brown: Live at Montreux

    Self

  • Poster for Walk Out

    Music

1980Aged 47

  • Poster for The Blues Brothers

    Cleophus James

1978Aged 45

  • Poster for James Brown Soul Brother No. 1

    (Unknown)

1974Aged 41

  • Poster for James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974

    Self

  • Poster for The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974

    Self

1973Aged 40

  • Poster for Black Caesar

    Original Music Composer

  • Poster for Slaughter's Big Rip-Off

    Original Music Composer

1971Aged 38

  • Poster for James Brown: Love Power Peace

    Self

1970Aged 37

  • Poster for The Phynx

    James Brown

1965Aged 32

  • Poster for Ski Party

    Self

1964Aged 31

  • Poster for The T.A.M.I. Show

    Self

Year unknown

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