
James Brown
Department: Acting
Biography
James Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter, eventually referred to as "The Godfather of Soul"(GFOS). Brown started singing in gospel groups and worked his way on up. He has been recognized as one of the most iconic figures in the 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing. He was also called "the hardest-working man in show business". Brown began his professional music career in 1956 and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was also a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s.
Known For

The Blues Brothers
1980

Rocky IV
1985

When We Were Kings
1996

Blues Brothers 2000
1998

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021

Soul Power
2009

James Brown: Body Heat
2004

Live 8
2005

When the Music's Over
1983

The Lost James Brown Tapes
1991

The Phynx
1970

Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
2013

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021

Beat the Devil
2002

The T.A.M.I. Show
1964

James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
2008

James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
1985

James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
2008

Paper Chasers
2003

Robots
2005

The Real Rocky
2011

James Brown: Live at Montreux
1981

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
2021

James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
2014

James Brown: Love Power Peace
1971

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
2014

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1974

Ski Party
1965

RapLine
1993

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989

Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
2012

James Brown: Live
2004

Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
2004

The Giants of Black Music
2003

James Brown: Soul Survivor
2003

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022

James Brown Live in Berlin
1991

Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006

James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
1978

The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014

George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
2006

A Tale of James Brown
2016

James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
2008

The UB40: Story of Reggae
2001

Doctor Detroit
1983

Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
1995

Undercover Brother
2002

Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
2001

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004

The Tuxedo
2002

Finding the Funk
2014

James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
1974

Africa Rising
2019

It's Black Entertainment
2002

1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
2018

James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
1987

The Apollo
2019

Pavarotti The Duets
2008

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007

Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
2009

James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
1999

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
2019

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
2020

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
2023

James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
2003

Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
—

Holy Man
1998

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025

James Brown: Living in America
2007

Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party
2006

Duckman
1994

The Simpsons
1989

Miami Vice
1984

The View
1997

70 Years of Youth Revolt
2020

TFI Friday
1996

Web Junk 20
2006

Amen
1986

The Hollywood Palace
1964

Shindig!
1964

The Music Scene
1969

The Flip Wilson Show
1970

Throb
1986

Where Are They Now?
1999

Playboy After Dark
1969

The Kennedy Center Honors
1978

The Hire
2001

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962

The Ed Sullivan Show
1948

The Mike Douglas Show
1961

Les Fous du Funk
2015

Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005

The Mike Douglas Show
1961

Yo! MTV Raps
1988

New York Undercover
1994

James Brown: Say It Loud
2024

Death by Fame
2023

Madam Secretary
2014

The Millers
2013

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
2021