Music: Tribute to the GodfatherBootsy and Patti Collins organize a star-studded tribute to James Brown
BY Brian Baker | Posted 12/19/2007
The passing of James Brown last year left a hole in the music world?s heart. Ex-bandmate Bootsy Collins decided to fill it up a little with a special tribute concert in Greater Cincinnati this weekend.
James Brown earned many colorful nicknames during his amazing career: Soul Brother No. 1, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Mr. Dynamite and, of course, the Godfather of Soul.
That last one has particular relevance for Bootsy Collins, renowned bassist and Soul/Funk avatar in his own right, but it only tells half the story.
?James started my career and it?s the least I can do to try to keep his legacy, his music and his memory alive,? Bootsy says from his Cincinnati studio. ?Coming up in a home with just a mother and no father in the house, he was like a father figure and he would always discipline me like a son. You know, getting those long lectures after the show on the plane ride ? there were so many memories, there?s not one that sticks out. People got down on him for being hard and strict but for me it was a good thing. I knew I needed it. I was just a wild kid out on the street doing crazy things. If I hadn?t gotten that, when I got with Parliament/Funkadelic I would have really been a mess. And I was a mess anyway.
So it all came back. I learned the ABCs, like being in the Army.?
Almost a year to the day since his Christmas Day passing in 2006, Brown continues to inspire love and respect. Given his local Cincinnati ties through his involvement in King Records, it?s little surprise that those feelings run deep here. And given his pivotal role as Collins? first employer when the aspiring bassist was just a skinny teenager hanging around the King offices looking for a break, it is equally unsurprising that it would be Collins and his wife Patti who would conceive and organize a personal and heartfelt tribute to one of the most important and influential musical figures of the past half century.
This Saturday, the Madison Theater in Covington becomes the center of the Soul universe with ?A Tribute Fit for the King of King Records: Mr. Dynamite, James Brown,? featuring an array of talent whose personal as well as professional lives were touched by the stellar presence of James Brown.
For an event that is at present the only scheduled celebratory tribute to the Godfather of Soul -- on a day that vacationing Mayor Mark Mallory will proclaim, via video, ?James Brown Day? -- the Collinses have assembled a broad and renowned lineup to honor Brown?s talent and memory. The Soul Generals, Brown?s backing band on the road for the last two decades and now led by his guitarist son Daryl, will perform the incendiary set that they?ve been doing since earlier this year when they collectively decided to remain a band to perpetuate the James Brown legend. The tribute will also feature a rare reunion of the JBs, including Bootsy on bass, his brother Phelps ?Catfish? Collins on guitar and the Original Funky Drummers John ?Jabo? Starks and Clyde ?Funky Drummer? Stubblefield, plus emcee Danny Ray. This portion of the evening will be hosted by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.
Original Fabulous Flames keyboardist Bobby Byrd, often credited with discovering Brown and who passed away himself just two months ago, will be represented by his widow Vicki Anderson, who will sing a song with the Generals, and two of his children including son Bart, who will perform with his group. The always entertaining and outrageous Freekbass will round out the local contingent, former In Living Color funnyman and stand-up comedian Tommy Davidson and renowned stand-up Michael Collier will also be appearing.
But perhaps the most unexpected guest of the evening will be former Guns ?n? Roses guitarist Buckethead, who will unleash his patented guitar pyrotechnics to pay tribute to Brown.
Complete article:
http://citybeat.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A143331
Author