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James Brown died early this morning. He was 73.
James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured “Godfather of Soul,” whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said. Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. “We really don’t know at this point what he died of,” he said.
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Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid- footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie’s “Fame,” Prince’s “Kiss,” George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” were clearly based on Brown’s rhythms and vocal style.
If Brown’s claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.
“James presented obviously the best grooves,” rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. “To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one’s coming even close.”
His hit singles include such classics as “Out of Sight,” “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Say It Out Loud _ I’m Black and I’m Proud,” a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.
“I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black,” Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. “The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society.”
He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (best R&B recording) and for “Living In America” in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.
His personal life was much less stellar than his career. He left behind an impressive body of work, though.
OTB
Popularity: 21% [?]
Billy Walker, a longtime Grand Old Opry member, has died in a car crash in Alabama. He was 77.
 Billy Walker, the Grand Ole Opry legend whose hits included “Charlie’s Shoes” and “Cross the Brazos at Waco” died in a wreck along an Alabama interstate Sunday. He was 77.
Walker was killed with three others when a van they were riding in ran off Interstate 65 south of Montgomery and overturned, state troopers said. Also killed in the wreck were Bettie Walker, 61; and Charles Lilly Jr., 44, both of Hendersonville, Tennessee; and Daniel Patton Sr., 40, of Hermitage, Tennessee. Joshua Brooks, 21, also of Hendersonville, was injured. His condition was not immediately available.
According to the Opry’s Web site, Billy Walker was born in Ralls, Texas, and built an early career as the “Traveling Texan, the Masked Singer of Country Songs,” and later shared the stage with Elvis Presley. Walker joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960.
A shame. I used to drive that stretch of I-65 all the time.
Popularity: 17% [?]
Elliott Yamin has been voted off “American Idol,” leaving the show with finalists Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.
 In a close vote, Abdul’s favorite finalist, Elliott Yamin — an “Idol” underdog and blue-eyed soul singer — was bounced off the Fox talent contest during Wednesday’s elimination show. The exit of the 27-year-old Richmond, Va., resident cleared the path for a final showdown between gray-haired Taylor Hicks and sultry Katharine McPhee. The winner will be crowned May 24.
During Wednesday’s program, Yamin told host Ryan Seacrest he felt “truly blessed.” “I hope it doesn’t stop here,” he said of his music career.
Yamin, who is 90 percent deaf in his right ear, was considered the show’s best — and most sensitive — male singer. When “Idol” featured a segment on Wednesday documenting his return home to greet fans in Virginia, he broke down in tears. Abdul also wept.
Judge Simon Cowell seemed to sense Yamin’s impending departure on Tuesday’s program. “Your songs are not going to carry you through to next week — that’s the problem,” Cowell told Yamin, who had performed a cover of Ray Charles’ “I Believe To My Soul.” “However, you are a great guy. You are a great singer. And whatever happens, you will make your mom very proud for what you’ve achieved for this competition.”
The nature of the competition is that someone who is a great genre singer–think Josh Grasin–can not win. The show rewards versatility and the ability to do at least reasonably well in a wide variety of formats. That has very little to do with actual musical stardom, where few artists stray too far from their comfort zone. The true greats like Ray Charles and Elvis Presley, are rare exceptions.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Chris Daughtry, widely expected to win this year’s “American Idol” competition, was unceremoniously voted off last night. He’s reportedly going to be added to the band Fuel on tonight’s “Extra.”
People:
 In a shocking turn, American Idol frontrunner Chris Daughtry was voted off the show Wednesday night. As the audience gasped and shouted no, host Ryan Seacrest asked a shell-shocked-looking Daughtry, “Surprised?” “A little bit,” he answered. Judge Paula Abdul grew tearful. The other contestants – Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks – also looked stunned.
Tuesday night, Daughtry’s rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” drew unanimous praise from the three judges, prompting Abdul to tell the 26-year-old from McLeansville, N.C.,: “See ya in the finals.”
Especially odd given that McPhee actually forgot the words to her song. Still, there may be a huge upside, according to TMZ:
The multi-platinum rock band Fuel has offered ‘American Idol’s’ Chris Daughtry a gig with the band. TMZ has learned that Fuel will make the offer in an exclusive interview on the television show ‘EXTRA’ tonight.
In a stunning turn of events, Daughtry, who was the odds-on favorite to win the ‘Idol’ competition, was booted last night. Daughtry was on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio show in Los Angeles this morning, where the ‘A.I.’ host, who is in on the secret, urged the singer to watch ‘EXTRA’ tonight.
Quite a two night turn of events.
Update: Wizbang Pop! and Defamer both wonder whether Fuel is a major band. Well, they’re certainly not the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith; I’ve heard of them.
Meanwhile, Pretend Pundit offers a gender-based theory on why Daughtry lost on “Idol.”
Popularity: 14% [?]
Elvis has been dead for 29 years but that hasn’t stopped advertisers from exploiting him.
Dolly Parton is to co-star in an advert with Elvis Presley. The country singer has been paired up with the late music legend for a commercial promoting their home state of Tennessee, in the US.
The chart topping music icons – who have notched up 43 number ones between them – will be shown riding together in a red convertible car through the wizardry of computer technology. The scene, which is taken from Presley’s 1967 movie ‘Clambake’, sees original actress Shelly Fabares replaced by the busty star.
In the advert, Parton says: “I’ve played a lot of stages over the years, but there’s one I never get tired of that’s set for a great time day or night – Tennessee.”
And, while she’s undeniably well endowed, Parton is 60 years old. She looks great for her age, to be sure, but its well past time to retire the boob jokes. Indeed, Johnny Carson did precisely that years ago.
Popularity: 18% [?]
Muhammad Ali has sold the rights to market his name, for a cool $50 mil.
 Muhammad Ali, one of the world’s most recognized people, has sold 80 percent of the marketing rights to his name and likeness to a firm for $50 million. The 64-year-old former heavyweight champion, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, will retain a 20 percent interest in the business. The new venture will be operated by a company called G.O.A.T. LLC, an acronym for “The Greatest of All Time.”
Ali and wife Lonnie are expected to work with CKX, Inc. to market his interests around the world. The deal includes trademarks owned by the boxing great. “This relationship with CKX will help guarantee that, for generations to come, people of all nations will understand my beliefs and my purpose,” Ali said in a statement issued Tuesday by the company. “I am honored to be able to partner with CKX as they continue to grow.”
CKX has concentrated primarily on entertainment and holds the rights to the IDOLS television brand, which includes the show “American Idol.” It also holds the rights to Elvis Presley’s marketing, and has an interest in the operations of Graceland, Presley’s Memphis, Tenn., home.
Elvis and Muhammad Ali are a pretty good combo, I guess. Still, this somehow seems wrong.
And how does one sell eighty percent of one’s name, anyway? Eighty percent of the profits, sure. But either Ali has a veto power over how his name is sold, in which case he effectively owns at least 51 percent of it, or not, in which case he effectively owns none of it.
Update: I hope they don’t change his name to “Enron Field.” That would really suck. Although, if they changed it back to “Cassius Clay,” it’d be kind of funny.
Popularity: 15% [?]
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