Chuck Brown
Funk fans started each Chuck Brown concert with a chant, “Wind me up, Chuck.” From there they would be treated to guitar riffs, driving percussion and other rhythm instruments that left them dancing to the beat. Brown, who died Wednesday at 75, was the “Godfather of Go-Go,” a genre blending funk, jazz and soul and other musical forms. “Go-Go,” 40 years after its founding, remains especially popular in its hometown of Washington, D.C. ~ CNN: Chuck Brown Obituary ~ May 19, 2012 © CNN
A posthumous album, Beautiful Life, was issued in 2014 with appearances from Faith Evans, Raheem DeVaughn, Wale, and go-go stalwarts Sugar Bear (of E.U.) and Ms. Yendy. ~ Allmusic: Chuck Brown ~ retrieved February 4, 2016 © Allmusic
Continued right after these…
Honoring musicians. Celebrating birthdays. Remembering death days.
August 28, 2010 ~ Billboard Hot 100 ~ #3 (4) Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, California Gurls ~ #2 (2) Taio Cruz, Dynamite ~ #1 (1) Eminem featuring Rihanna, Love The Way You Lie
Continued…
Developed his commanding brand of funk in the mid-1970s to compete with the dominance of disco. Like a DJ blending records, Mr. Brown used nonstop percussion to stitch songs together and keep the crowd on the dance floor, resulting in marathon performances that went deep into the night. Mr. Brown said the style got its name because “the music just goes and goes.” In addition to being go-go’s principal architect, Mr. Brown remained the genre’s most charismatic figure. On stage, his spirited call-and-response routines became a hallmark of the music, reinforcing a sense of community that allowed the scene to thrive. As go-go became a point of pride for black Washingtonians, Mr. Brown became one of the city’s most recognizable figures. ~ Washington Post: Chuck Brown Obituary ~ May 16, 2012 © The Washington Post