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James Brown: Photos of the ‘Godfather Of Soul’ Through the Years

By:
Paige Kindlick
May 3, 2022 3:15PM EDT
James Brown
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

James Brown was known as the ‘Godfather Of Soul’. See photos of him here.

James Brown, born May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina, was an iconic funk and soul singer, whose career lasted over 50 years. Often refferered to as the “Godfather Of Soul”, James began as a gospel singer before building his reputation as part of the popular R&B act The Famous Flames. Singles like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”, “Get Up”, and “Say It Loud” solidified his place in music history. He had 17 singles that topped Billboard’s R&B charts. inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He died Christmas Day 2006 from heart failure, and he’s the father of at least nine children that he’s acknowledged.

Want to see more photos of James Brown through the years? Look no further! We picked his best photos for our gallery, here.

1 of 8

James Brown In 1968

James Brown In 1968
Simon Pietri/Shutterstock

James Brown looks cool before entertaining troops in Vietnam in 1968. He wore a yellow turtleneck as he combed his hair. He was once quoted saying, “The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.”

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
2 of 8

James Brown In 1986

James Brown In 1986
Peter Brooker/Shutterstock

James Brown serenades the audience at London’s Wembley Arena in 1986. He wore a sparkling black on black tux during his high-energy set.

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
3 of 8

James Brown In London

James Brown In London
Andre Csillag/Shutterstock

On fire! James Brown looks electric while in red during a London show. He once said of performing, “When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don’t go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it. Thank God for the journey.”

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
4 of 8

James Brown In 1996

James Brown In 1996
Charles Sykes/Shutterstock

James Brown glows as he takes the mic in 1996. His hair was long and shiny. The star, who was known for his looks, was once quoted saying, “Hair is the first thing. And teeth the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he’s got it all.”

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
5 of 8

James Brown In 2001

James Brown In 2001
Helen Osler/Shutterstock

Stage presence! James Brown wore fringed white to perform at Live On The Lawn concert at Crathes Castle in Banchory, Scotland on Aug. 18, 2001.

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM

More AboutJames Brown

  • James Brown’s Daughters on Tackling the Difficult Aspects of Their Father’s Past in New Documentary (Exclusive)
6 of 8

James Brown Poses

James Brown Poses
Andre Csillag/Shutterstock

James Brown smiles in a portriat taken in London. It appeared to be the late 80s.

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
7 of 8

‘Soul Power’

‘Soul Power’
©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett

James Brown appears in an archival photos from the 2008 documentary ‘Soul Power’. He looked very groovy.

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
8 of 8

James Brown In ‘Soul Power’

James Brown In ‘Soul Power’
©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett

James Brown was the center of attention while hanging out with his shirt opening a backstage photos. The vintage snap was included in the 2008 documentary ‘Soul Power’.

May 3, 2022, 2:33PM
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