INFO:

Source: TVRip
Video compression mode: [MKV,1080p][H.264,AC3]
Size MB: 2020
Total Run Time mn. 115:07

Think about the musical landscape before James Brown came along.

At the time, Elvis, and the new genre of rock and roll, was probably the most controversial and “dangerous” new thing in pop culture. Mr. Brown was still trying to find his “voice.” He was singing familiar styled blues and R&B songs. “Kansas City,” for example, became one of his early staples. By 1959 rock and roll nearly died; then came the Beatles, Motown, and a host of cultural upheavals during the 1960s.

Out of this decade of upheaval emerged the Godfather of Soul. He surrounded himself with great players and he found what he could do, and do well – bring the funk and soul. Nobody had heard anything like “Cold Sweat,” or “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” or “Say It Loud." Imagine what it must have been like to hear these songs for the first time!

“The Rise of James Brown” chronicles this time period; his climb to the top. This is not a survey of his entire career, but the period in which he was the most innovative, politically active, and a force to be reckoned with. So much so, that in 1969 LOOK Magazine placed him on their cover asking if he was the most important Black man in America.

The documentary includes fresh interviews with significant people associated with Mr. Brown, including, Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker (with a story about pulling a gun on Mr. Brown!), Pee Wee Ellis, Danny Ray, Alan Leeds, Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Bobby Byrd, Martha High, and Al Sharpton. Informative and entertaining stories are shared about different events in his life including his appearances on the Ed Sullivan show, the Boston concert, his “natural” vs his “conk,” how his songs were written, his business dealings, and a segment by Mick Jagger (conveniently one of the producers) telling how James Brown did NOT upstage the Stones on the T.A.M.I. show.