Author:James McBride
American author and musician James McBride attempts to dissect the career, legacy and myth of James Brown in this biography.
Abandoning the traditional linear structure of this type of book, McBride makes extensive use of anecdotes and vignettes to propel the story. Indeed there is surprisingly little discussion of Brown’s musical output as the book focuses on key moments in his life outside the spotlight, and on the people who surrounded him.
As far as the author is concerned, Brown’s tale is one in which money and greed played crucial roles, as evidenced by the inevitable and almost Dickensian legal wrangling over his $100 million dollar estate, which prevented those funds reaching their intended destination of the education of underprivileged children in the Deep South and left Brown’s body unburied for eight years.
The book also gives a telling insight into the racism and culture which both created and ultimately destroyed James Brown.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Subtitled ‘Searching For The Real James Brown’, this will appeal to those who want to go beyond the well known anecdotes and learn about the ‘real person’ behind the myths and the masks.
One thing you’ve learned
As well as being the ‘hardest working man in show business’, Brown was an immensely complicated, misunderstood and troubled man.
Just read this again – why was his body left unburied for 8 years?
errr re-read the review again, not the book.
“He’s been dead since 2006 but he still hasn’t been [properly] buried – he’s at his daughter’s house,” alleges Murrell of the godfather of funk and soul, whom he drove for 15 years, to concerts, restaurants, even his doctor. “They muminized [sic] his body so he would never rot, at $140,000 cost. Why? When you got almost 20 kids and six wives it’s hard to get you in the ground.”
Mao, Lenin, Ho Chi Minh and…….. James Brown
Brown’s “autobiography” of 1986 (in collaboration with Bruce Tucker) received very mixed reviews and going by the above review, what goes around comes around. The book ends with the following:
Where I grew up there was no way out, no avenue of escape, so you had to make a way. Mine was to create JAMES BROWN. God made me but with the guidance of a Ben Bart, I created the myth. I’ve tried to fulfill it. But I’ve always tried to remember that there’s JAMES BROWN the myth and James Brown the man. The people own JAMES BROWN. That belongs to them. The minute I say “I’m JAMES BROWN” and believe it, then it will be the end of James Brown.
I’m JAMES BROWN.
FWIW the best part of the biography is the 60 page discography compiled by Cliff White.