A massively influential figure, James Brown - born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell,
South Carolina - is remembered as the undisputed ‘godfather of soul’, his mix of
frantic African rhythms with raw rock inspired generations of funk, soul, rock
and R&B artists. Born in America's Deep South in the Depression era, Brown was
brought up in extreme poverty, raised by an aunt who ran a brothel. Dropping out
of school, he polished shoes, washed dishes, swept stores and entered talent
contests playing harmonica. At 16, Brown was convicted of armed robbery and sent
to a reform school, where he ...