James Brown Bio

[pepper1dancer]

Not a fan of James Brown but I just finished his Book "I Feel Good". Man, this man was sure cocky. He mentions Disco and he says "There was a new sound in the air, and it was just about the opposite of everything I had come to stand for in music". But, then he goes on how one of his singles "Sex Machine", is arguably the first disco song. And also the hip Dj's always has that song on their top list. Whatever...........

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by pepper1dancer

Not a fan of James Brown but I just finished his Book "I Feel Good". Man, this man was sure cocky. He mentions Disco and he says "There was a new sound in the air, and it was just about the opposite of everything I had come to stand for in music". But, then he goes on how one of his singles "Sex Machine", is arguably the first disco song. And also the hip Dj's always has that song on their top list. Whatever...........

You must have missed our Original Disco Man thread! :)

I have no problems with James Brown talking the talk, because he walked the walk. Sure, a lot of times some the rhythm arrangements or melodies were first initiated by his band members, like Fred Wesley. But James put the groove together in a way that people remembered. If you check out stuff that some of his bitter ex-backing band members and revue singers did after leaving James Brown, it's not all that good.

Back to the disco issue, I think James was one of the guys who helped create club dance music that became known as disco. The repetitive funky groove, with a thumping beat with emphasis on 'the 1', were characteristics that would later become the elements of disco. Sure there were a lot of other artists who did songs here and there that could be considered 'proto-disco' or early influences on disco, but it was the Godfather of Soul that pushed it and remained consistent with the sound.

Disco Funk