Just a year before his death, the Godfather of Soul reached into his vast catalog of hit songs for a night of music, recorded live from the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Hear the full performance, originally webcast live on NPR.org Dec. 28, 2005 as part of NPR Music's live concert series from All Songs Considered. Previous shows are listed at right.
An MP3 version of the James Brown performance is also available for download at left.
James Brown was one of the most influential artists in popular American music, often credited with turning R&B into soul and soul into funk with hits like "Please, Please, Please," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Sex Machine." He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1992 and was a 2003 Kennedy Center honoree.
The opening act, Chuck Brown, is a native of Washington, D.C. and known as the father of "go-go" music. It's a musical hybrid Brown says is "slower and funkier" than disco, but beat-driven with Latin-flavored congos and cowbells. Performed live, the songs roll into one another, offering an almost continuous beat with plenty of audience participation.
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