Say It Loud!: My Memories of James Brown, Soul Brother No. 1

A very well-written and thoughtful tome, concentrating on the "Rocky IV"-era professional resurgence and personal downturn. To my knowledge, this is the only James Brown reader to really get into the final decade of his life - when, in his late 60s, showed almost no will to slow down, despite the private traumas and disappointing record sales. I would have appreciated more discussion of those excellent Monk-produced CDs and many more photographs from the "prime" years. This would have been consistent to the text, as well. The addendum, a word-for-word transcript of a telephone interview with a mysterious lady (apparently first a fan who was a groupie for a day, then a constant companion), amounts to nothing, and actually deingrates the book.

I came across this book at the library, on the shelf with books for sale.. I was so happy to find it. I grew up with Mr. Brown, and love him dearly. He said he wasn't white or black, just people. And people have no color. Well, I believe that is true, Mr Brown. This is a wonderful book, and I learned things I never knew about him. Every thanksgiving he helped give out free turkeys, and at Christmas, was always there to help give out the toys to the kids. It is the touching story of his life,of a man we all love and miss and he will always be remembered.

Don Rhodes has written a very beautiful biography of one of the greatest entertainers of all time...James Brown. This book covers everything, from JB's humble beginnings, dancing in front of radio station WRDW, to his various musical achievements, personal tragedies, and ultimate renaissance. The book's description of Augusta streets and landmarks will make any tourist to this city feel familiar with Augusta's history and JB's life. This book is a great achievement and one can tell that Mr. Rhodes cherished his long-time friendship with the Godfather of Soul. Any music lover will enjoy this story, and anyone not familiar with James Brown will become an instant fan. This book is destined to become a music history classic.

I've been a James Brown fan for forty years, I started as one just out of my diapers, when my parents took me to see him in the Atlanta staduim in the 60's. I've read many book on the Godfather of soul and this one is truely the deepest and best one I read. I waited all my life to meet James Brown in person, and after reading this I think I have finally done it. I visisted Augusta, Georgia in September 2005 and so I was familiar with a lot of the area referenced in the book. James Brown was a man's man in every respect, he was a prophet, a leader and a man ahead of his time in music and as well as life. You will find out before he was a singer, he was truely the hardest working man period trying to pull himself up out of poverty. As an African American who dad died when I was young, James Brown became my father figure. Thousands of African Americans had that same experience too. So he was more than a singer in that respect too. When Mr. Brown wore superbad outfits, we wore super bad outfits, when he walked with his head up, we walked with our head up, when he stood up, we stood up and when he would fall, it felt like a close relative falling. Mr Brown touched all races, looking on you tube, there is a Japanese tribute band that tries to copy the master and give it out like he did. They try to match him note for note, grunt for grunt, attitude to attitude and song for song. That is why Mr. Brown could play Europe, Asia, South America, North America, Africa and the Middle East. Reading all the stops he made year after year was mind blowing and the book only listed a small sample of them. I never really grieved over him yet but as I was on the last few pages I cried. I cried for truely the complex gifted man he was who had fought so hard to make a better life for all the under dogs in life. He could have easily retired and took it easy but this man was on a mission, he was the living breathing robin hood of our lifetime. This book has some suprising voices in it, like his first wife Velma who gives us the real man. The fans have been waiting for some real good stuff on him and we now have it at last. Don Rhodes got really close to our Godfather and knew him well. This is a masterpiece and the James Brown book that will become the one future James Brown books will be compared too. Really this book should be used for a movie about the soul legend...Spike Lee read this one. Soul Brother number one will never be forgotten. Say it Loud, indeed.