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James Brown

'James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4' Is A Marvelous And Mysterious Time Capsule

The latest release of James Brown's music, Get Down with James Brown: Live at the Apollo Vol 4, was recorded in 1972 — and finally released this year. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Music Reviews

'James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4' Is A Marvelous And Mysterious Time Capsule

The 1972 concerts at The Apollo were recorded but, inexplicably, never released — until now. They show a side of Brown content to turn the show over to his collaborators.

'James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4' Is A Marvelous And Mysterious Time Capsule

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The Lonely Side Of James Brown

James Brown performs at the Philharmonie in Cologne, Germany in 2003. Henning Kaiser/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Henning Kaiser/AFP/Getty Images

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

The Lonely Side Of James Brown

When James McBride, a National Book Award winner for his fiction, decided to write an entire book about James Brown, he wanted to push beyond the hype and racism he says haunts Brown's legacy.

The Lonely Side Of James Brown

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Christian McBride's Christmas Jazz Playlist

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis' version of "We Three Kings" goes on Christian McBride's holiday playlist. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Brooks Brothers hide caption

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Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Brooks Brothers

Jazz Night In America

Christian McBride's Christmas Jazz Playlist

These days, the host of Jazz Night In America looks for old and forgotten gems during the holiday season. He weighs in with surprisingly different and joyous tunes — plus, of course, James Brown.

Christian McBride's Christmas Jazz Playlist

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The Original Funky Drummers On Life With James Brown

John "Jabo" Starks (left) and Clyde Stubblefield laid the grooves on many of James Brown's biggest hits. Here, they clown around on the cover of their joint DVD, Soul of the Funky Drummers. Rittor Music hide caption

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Rittor Music

Beat Week

The Original Funky Drummers On Life With James Brown

Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks should have been rivals: James Brown hired both of them to do one job. Instead, they stuck together, and laid the foundation for modern funk drumming in the process.

The Original Funky Drummers On Life With James Brown

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An Admiring And Unflinching Look At 'Mr. Dynamite'

James Brown performs onstage at the TAMI Show on December 29, 1964 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Review

Movie Reviews

An Admiring And Unflinching Look At 'Mr. Dynamite'

The new HBO documentary Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown traces the singer's career through the words of writers, musicians and former employees.

James Brown On Film: An Admiring And Unflinching Look At 'Mr. Dynamite'

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Guest DJ: John Leguizamo On Salsa, Hip-Hop And Acting

John Leguizamo is currently touring on his one man show Ghetto Klown. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

Guest DJ: John Leguizamo On Salsa, Hip-Hop And Acting

The eclectic performer's show Ghetto Klown features the music he grew up with, from Hector Lavoe to Kool Moe Dee. Leguizamo shares his favorite songs and thoughts about being Latino in Hollywood today.

Guest DJ: John Leguizamo On Salsa, Hip-Hop And Acting

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Music News

Brown Estate In A 'Cold Sweat' Over Image Use

The estate of the late "Godfather of Soul" says Corbis Corp. violated James Brown's right of publicity by selling photos of him. Corbis has asked the Illinois Legislature to pass a law to protect its business of selling celebrity photos.

Brown Estate In A 'Cold Sweat' Over Image Use

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Opinion

Music Interviews

A Tribute to James Brown

On the first anniversary of the death of soul singer James Brown, we learn about a recent unprecedented memorial celebration called Function at Princeton Junction. This scholarly gathering of writers, musicians, and critics took a look at and a listen to the music of James Brown. Music critic Robert Christgau was part of the conference and has these thoughts on the Godfather of Soul.

A Tribute to James Brown

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Music News

CNN Examines James Brown's Legacy

Singer James Brown would have turned 74 yesterday. Don Lemon, anchor for CNN Newsroom talks to Tony Cox about James Brown, Say it Proud, a new CNN documentary that explores Brown's complicated musical and political legacy.

CNN Examines James Brown's Legacy

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Music News

Harlem Says Its Farewell to James Brown

A horse-drawn carriage carried the body of music legend James Brown through the streets of Harlem on Thursday to the world-famous Apollo Theater, where a sea of people waited to say farewell to the man known as the "Godfather of Soul." Brown died Christmas Day at the age of 73. He was to play in New York on New Year's Eve.

Harlem Says Its Farewell to James Brown

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Music Interviews

Soul Icon James Brown Dies at 73

Singer James Brown dies at 73. He had been hospitalized in Atlanta for pneumonia. His string of hits began in 1956 with "Please Please Please" and continued with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "Night Train," and "I Got You."

Soul Icon James Brown Dies at 73

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Music News

Grunge, Rap Music Added to U.S. Recording Registry

Glenn Miller's "In the Mood," Edward R. Murrow's wartime broadcasts from London and Public Enemy's influential hip-hop album Fear of a Black Planet are among the recordings added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.

Grunge, Rap Music Added to U.S. Recording Registry

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Music Interviews

James Brown: Feeling Good

Fresh Air

James Brown is also known as the Godfather of Soul and the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, among other titles. The 71-year-old singer is still touring, despite having prostate surgery in December. He's written a new memoir, James Brown: I Feel Good.

James Brown: Feeling Good

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The Passionate, Turbulent Life Of James Brown
Gotham Books

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

The Passionate, Turbulent Life Of James Brown

Brown was a music industry survivor, but he wasn't as indestructible as he seemed to believe. RJ Smith's new biography The One presents the soul godfather as an unparalleled performer undone by drugs and violence.

The Passionate, Turbulent Life Of James Brown

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'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'

The inimitable James Brown sings on stage at the Olympia theater, Paris, France. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The NPR 100

'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'

The story behind the ground breaking hit from the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'

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