James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) began a 50 year career as a performer singing in Toccoa, GA with the Gospel Starlighters. His first hit “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” topped the R&B charts for 8 weeks following its 1965 release. He was a tireless performer and a prolific songwriter. Brown moved to Augusta with his family when he was about 5 years old. By age 11, he had appeared in a talent show at the Lenox Theater, winning the show with his performance of a ballad, “So Long”. The rest, as they say…. is history! The statue of James Brown was dedicated on May 6, 2005. It was sculpted by Dr. John Savage. Brown’s instruments & memorabilia were on display at the Augusta Museum of History.

James Brown holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1

To hear his music on i-Tunes, >click here<