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Brown, James. The Godfather of Soul. Showtime productions/Dave booth, 1986.

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1933- James Brown is born in South Carolina on May 3. His parents had meant to name him after his father but the hospital officials made a mistake on his birth certificate and made James his first name instead of Joseph.

1) " I wasn't supposed to be James. I wasn't supposed to be brown. And I wasn't supposed to be alive.'(1)

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1940- Where he was first taught how to play the piano by a neighborhood friend Robert Graham, Jr. Near the same time his father gifted him a harmonica and he had then discovered his musical talents as well as his passion for music.

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1944- James has just entered the amateur night competition at Lenox Theater. And because of his amazing talent and unbelieving skill he wins first prize!

2) "I had won that lenox theater amateur night several times by then and had a -very small- local following"(25/26)

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1949- James is desperate and caught breaking into cars in Agusta, Georga. He is therefore sentenced to 8-16 years of hard labor. While in prison he forms a gospel quartet.

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1952- James had had such good behavior they let him off patrol early on June 14th. Then finds a job working for Lawson Motors and ends up moving in with the Byrd family temporarily.

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1953- James ends up making connections with the Byrd family and joins their musical group. After some time it was named the Famous Flames. While performing the band was noticed by a king record scout, who ends up hearing their song demo.

3)"We were pitiful. Our voices didn't seem to fit together. Their voices were sweet and mellow mine was raw and Powerful. We weren't even sure what kind of music we wanted to do, gospel or rhythm and blues."(54)

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1956- Famous Flames toured various places and eventually managed to secure a deal with the Ohio based Federal Records. Federal Records was affiliated to King Records. The group became an immediate success with their first single Please, please, please released in 1956 entering the top ten hits at number six. The track sold over one million copies.

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James Brown performs "Please Please Please" outside source 2  

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1957- Due to the leadership of James in the group and a little help from his manager, Ben Bart, they renamed the group to James Brown and the Famous Flames.

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James Brown performs "Please Please Please" at the TAMI Show (Live)

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1958- in October the group released another single "Try Me". It very quickly reached the top of the charts and became the #1 R&B song.

4)"The flames and I were still staying on top of the latest records..."(65)

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1959- James had made it good, and he knew it too. performing at the Apollo theater was a huge deal, to say the least. He performed on April 24, 1959, and it was a time to remember. Around the same time this year, the album TRY ME is released. Dubbed "the hardest-working man in show business" by "Fats" Gonder.

5)" When I got through the apollo theme music and the current went up, I came out smoking."(100)

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American Bandstand 1967- Interview James Brown outside source 4

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1960- James had made his first appearance on national TV on AMERICAN BANDSTAND.

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American Bandstand 1967- Interview James Brown

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1963- James found himself in much success and ended up releasing an album called LIVE AT THE APOLLO. And he also releases a single PRISONER OF LOVE; the single, "Prisoner of Love," which reaches the top 20 on the pop charts.

6) " When Mr. Nathan checked the radio station to see what was being played off the album, he got a surprise. They told him there wasn't a tune in the stations were playing. They were playing in the whole album."(139)

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James Brown & The Famous Flames, live on the T.A.M.I  show 1964 outside source 5 

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1964- James records "Out of Sight" in June. It very quickly becomes one of his biggest hits yet! Because of how big it was he was presented with the opportunity to perform on THE T.A.M.I. SHOW in November. The show was a success and fans say he outshined the rolling stones.

7) " It was one of those performances when you don't even know how you're doing it."(153)

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James Brown & The Famous Flames, live on the T.A.M.I  show 1964

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1966- James was releasing song after song. First, he releases "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" and then "Don't Be a Drop-Out." They had a lot of success, and because of that he was invited to perform on the ED SULLIVAN SHOW and at a benefit concert for the "March Against Fear."

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1967- James recorded an Album COLD SWEAT and it was released in July. Around this time he was going through some rough patches in his life but was still thriving in fame.

8) "I didn't think a year could be any stranger than 1967, but there was a lot worse to come."

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1968- James's beloved manager, Ben Bart dies. Shortly after he Performs for the troops in Vietnam. "Say It Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud".  James is astonished by the susses and is honored. Ultimately it becomes a million-seller.

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1969- James has been recording away and releases "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose". Even in the midst of his crazy life, he finds time to open two Gold Platter restaurants; which give him great success. Later that year he Performs at the Newport Jazz Festival and has the time of his life.

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1970- James releases an album called SEX MACHINE. This album caused a lot of problems for James as many band members left him after this release.

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1985- At this point, James has been through a lot, but his career was only getting started. He then released a hit single "Living in America" from ROCKY IV. This single got lots of attention and added to James's success.

9) "That movie gave me the final boost I was looking for, but there were other things that helped, too, during the time I was playing the clubs."

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1986- James Brown was introduced into the rock and roll hall of fame. This was a huge deal. James would be remembered forever.

10) " not long after I was putting the Hall of Fame..."(266)

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1987- James has had an amazing successful career and was given an award to prove it.  In 1987 he picked up a Grammy for Best male rhythm and blues vocal performance. The Grammy was received for the song Living in America.