# James Brown

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and bandleader known as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," whose relentless performances and innovative rhythmic approach—shifting the emphasis from melody to groove—directly created the foundation of funk and influenced the development of soul, hip-hop, and dance music. His landmark recordings include "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (1965), "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965), and "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" (1968). He died on Christmas Day 2006 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1986.

## Quick Facts

- **Born:** May 3, 1933
- **Birthplace:** Barnwell, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Occupation:** Soul / Funk / R&B
- **Category:** Musicians
- **Net Worth:** $100M (est. 2006)
- **Also Known As:** The Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business

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Source: https://peoplebio.info/p/james-brown