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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (41)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self - Musical Guest December 13, 1980 (archive footage)
2025
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
2022
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
as Self (archive footage)
2021
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
as (archive footage)
2020
Africa Rising
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
2019
The Apollo
as Self (archive footage)
2019
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
2019
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
as Self (archive footage)
2018
A Tale of James Brown
as Self (archive footage)
2016
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
as Self
2014
Get on Up
Songs (Sound)
2014
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
as Self (archive footage)
2014
Finding the Funk
as Self
2014
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
as Self (archive footage)
2013
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
as Self (archive footage)
2012
The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)
2011
Soul Power
as Self (archive footage)
2009
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
as Self
2009
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
as Self
2008
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
as Self
2008
Pavarotti The Duets
as Self
2008
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
as Self (archive footage)
2008
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Live 8
as Self
2005
Robots
as Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
James Brown: Live
as Self
2004
James Brown: Body Heat
as Self
2004
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
as Self (archive footage)
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
2004
James Brown: Soul Survivor
as Self
2003
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
2003
Paper Chasers
2003
The Giants of Black Music
as Self
2003
Beat the Devil
as Mr. James Brown
2002
The Tuxedo
as James Brown
2002
TV Shows (9)
James Brown: Say It Loud
as Self (archive footage)
2024
Death by Fame
as Self (archive footage)
2023
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
as Self (archive footage)
2021
70 Years of Youth Revolt
as Self (archive footage)
2020
Les Fous du Funk
as Self
2015
Madam Secretary
as James Brown
2014
The Millers
as James Brown
2013
Web Junk 20
2006
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
as Self
2005