James Brown Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets


13th August 2015

Fact: Drake has tied James Brown for the fourth-most entries in America's Billboard Hot 100 countdown. The rapper's four debuts on this week's (beg10Aug15) chart takes his tally to 91 - equalling soul legend Brown's hits legacy. Only Elvis Presley, Lil Wayne and the Glee cast have more hits. The Glee cast leads the way with 201 Hot 100 entries.


8th October 2014

Fact: A new James Brown documentary produced by Sir Mick Jagger and directed by Alex Gibney is set to be broadcast on America's HBO cable channel later this month (Oct14). Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown, which was made in co-operation with the late superstar's estate, will feature previously-unseen footage of the music icon. It is Jagger's second Brown project - he also helped to bring his life story to the big screen with the summer (14) release of biopic Get On Up, which featured Chadwick Boseman as the Godfather of Soul.


22nd August 2014

Fact: Actor Chadwick Boseman showed off his singing skills on The Late Show With David Letterman on Thursday (21Aug14), when he performed James Brown's It's A Man's Man's Man's World. The 42 star portrays the legendary singer in biopic Get On Up, which is currently in theatres.


24th July 2014

Quote: "I came to watch James Brown later in my career, I was sitting down in the back of the (ground floor). He asked me to come onstage and I tried to run out... and they forced me to come onstage." Sir Mick Jagger recalls trying to avoid the spotlight the second time he ever saw James Brown perform live at New York's legendary Apollo Theater. The rocker is one of the producers behind the new film biopic, Get On Up.


23rd July 2014

Quote: "We had not met before. We just sent messages through family and I really did not want to talk to her." Jill Scott on meeting James Brown's first wife Deedee at the New York premiere of new biopic Get On Up. Scott portrays Deedee in the film.


21st July 2014

Quote: "I did not (know who he was). When I read the script, I was like, 'Is this a fictitious character?' (But) I did the research and I fell in love with this man... He was such a wonderful individual." Actor Nelsan Ellis had to study soul singer/producer Bobby Byrd's background before signing up to star as James Brown's best friend and confidante in new biopic Get On Up.


18th July 2014

Quote: "I made the call. When I found out Tate was directing, I was like, 'You better find me something for me to do Tate. I don't care what it is, but you better find something, because I'm a big James Brown fan.' And he did, he's very loyal that way." Actress Octavia Spencer would have done anything to land a role in her director pal Tate Taylor's new James Brown biopic, Get On Up. The Help star portrays Aunt Honey in the film, opposite 42 actor Chadwick Boseman, who plays the late Godfather of Soul


23rd October 2012

Fact: The Help director Tate Taylor is in talks to take on a new James Brown biopic, which Mick Jagger is slated to produce, alongside Brian Grazer, according to Deadline.com.


25th July 2011

Fact: James Brown's hit Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine has been voted the best dance track of all time in a new poll for the GlobalGathering festival. Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-Lite and Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas came second and third respectively.


11th May 2010

Fact: Soul legends Smokey Robinson and James Brown and R&B and jazz great Ella Fitzgerald are to be among the first stars to be inducted into the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame in New York. The trio will be joined alongside Little Richard, Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight as part of the fabled venue's 75 anniversary celebrations.


26th June 2009

Quote: "Michael Jackson was easily as influential as James Brown, and that's saying a lot. He was the Fred Astaire of his time. Nobody moved like Michael, he was truly the King of Pop." Rocker Alice Cooper pays his respects.


22nd February 2009

Fact: A string of A-listers took to the stage at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday (21Feb09), to pay musical tribute to nominated movies. The Office actor Rainn Wilson impersonated Mickey Rourke'S THE WRESTLER character to sing James Brown's I FEEL GOOD; Christina Applegate sang Tina Turner'S ROLLING ON THE RIVER as an ode to FROZEN RIVER; Teri Hatcher paid a raunchy tribute to WENDY & LUCY; and TARAJI P. HENSON seranaded the crowd with a rendition of R.E.S.P.E.C.T - replacing the chorus with B.A.L.L.A.S.T (for Ballast).


22nd February 2009

Fact: A string of A-listers took to the stage at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday (21Feb09), to pay musical tribute to nominated movies. The Office actor Rainn Wilson impersonated Mickey Rourke'S THE WRESTLER character to sing James Brown's I FEEL GOOD; Christina Applegate sang Tina Turner'S ROLLING ON THE RIVER as an ode to FROZEN RIVER; Teri Hatcher paid a raunchy tribute to WENDY & LUCY; and TARAJI P. HENSON serenaded the crowd with a rendition of R.E.S.P.E.C.T - replacing the chorus with B.A.L.L.A.S.T (for Ballast).


23rd December 2008

Fact: Late comedian Bernie Mac will be honoured by New York's Ujamaa Black Theater in a special production about the comic, who died of pneumonia last August (08). The company is reportedly seeking black actors, singers, and comedians, and lookalikes for MAC, and late entertainers Isaac Hayes and James Brown for the forthcoming show.


3rd July 2008

Quote: "I like to relax with a vodka and lemonade and listen to James Brown. Then I'll have a manicure and pedicure, and I wax as well. Men owe it to men to make sure they're well groomed. I wax my privates." Sean Combs isn't shy about revealing his extensive pre-date grooming habits.


7th April 2008

Fact: An auction of late soul star James Brown's possessions includes the singer's birth certificate, a letter written to late royal DIANA, Princess Of Wales, and a poem written for him by boxing legend Muhammad Ali.


30th May 2007

Fact: Wesley Snipes has been cast to play James Brown in director Spike Lee's new biopic about the late soul man.


3rd May 2007

Quote: "She dances better than dad did." DARYL BROWN is confident his sister VENISHA will ensure tonight's (03May07) birthday tribute concert for their late soul legend father James Brown is a success.


9th April 2007

Quote: "I'd like to be able to sing like James Brown or George Jones or Maria Callas but I can't. So you just do your own version of them, which sounds a lot like you after a while." Gravel-voiced singer Tom Waits wishes he had a sweeter tone.


13th February 2007

Quote: "I was thrilled... that they would think I could pull off a James Brown song. I saw his spins (but) I didn't do the spins. I didn't want to trip on my heels or something." Christina Aguilera on her James Brown tribute at the Grammy Awards (11FEB07).


12th February 2007

Quote: "I started out when there was HENRY MANCINI in the audience and half the people weren't even allowed to be there - the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, they didn't come. It's amazing what the Grammys have become." Soul star Lionel Richie gets nostalgic on the Grammy Awards red carpet.


12th February 2007

Quote: "I started out when there was HENRY MANCINI in the audience and half the people weren't even allowed to be there - the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, they didn't come. It's amazing what the Grammys have become." Soul star Lionel Richie gets nostalgic on the Grammy Awards red carpet.


30th January 2007

Quote: "JAMES was angry. I'm not kidding you, he scared me to death." John Mellencamp, who once fronted a James Brown tribute band, on his first backstage meeting with late hero.


5th January 2007

Quote: "We knew he wasn't going to go to the beach because that would mess his hair up and he was not going to have that." James Brown's daughter DEANNA jokes about her workaholic father's inability to relax.


4th January 2007

Fact: James Brown's widow TOMI RAE HYNIE was performing as Janis Joplin in a tribute concert revue when the late soul star hired her as his backing singer. She sang Joplin's MERCEDES BENZ hit in her audition for Brown.


9th November 2006

Fact: Prince has been named a late addition to the list of 2006 inductees for the UK Music Hall of Fame. The pop superstar will join Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, James Brown, Brian Wilson, Led Zeppelin and DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, among others, on the honour role next Tuesday (14NOV06).


8th July 2006

Quote: "The best way I can describe that song is, say, David Bowie and (former Talking Heads star) David Byrne decided to do a cover of James Brown's Sex Machine." Justin Timberlake has high expectation for his new single SEXYBACK.


2nd July 2006

Fact: Soul legend James Brown insists people entering his Georgia house must be wearing smart trousers, and anyone wearing jeans will not be admitted.


21st June 2006

Quote: "I'm the most sampled and stolen. What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine too. I got a song about that... (but I) don't want a war with the rappers." Soul superstar James Brown knows his music is a goldmine for rap samples.


6th June 2006

Quote: "I'd rather smoke a joint than take a sedative. I'd rather come down than be knocked out." James Brown is determined to grow old gracefully.


25th March 2006

Fact: British pop act THE PET SHOP BOYS are headlining a summer festival at the Tower Of London. Other artists booked for the extravaganza, which kicks off in June (06), include James Brown, Jamie Cullum and Dionne Warwick.


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