James Brown American Singer Born 1933 in Barnwell
James Brown · singer-songwriter and singer · American
Known for
Biography
American singer James Brown was born on 3 May 1933 in Barnwell. He passed away on 25 December 2006 at the age of 73. The recorded cause of death is listed as heart failure and pneumonia. He is remembered as a member of James Brown & The Famous Flames.
Career
In all, 89 albums and 93 singles are listed under his name between 1958 and 2014. From Try Me (1958) to Get On Up: The James Brown Story – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2014), the list follows his releases year by year. His recordings are classed as soul and funk. The records note guitar and organ as his instruments. His recordings came out on Federal Records.
Aretha Franklin appears in three of his listed titles, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). Other co-stars who recur in his credits are Dan Aykroyd (three titles) and Ray Charles (two titles). John Landis directed two of his titles on record. Screen work on record covers 18 credits, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and The Tuxedo (2002).
Recognition
James Brown received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. Further recognition came with the Kennedy Center Honors and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986). Altogether, 5 wins are listed.
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Velma Warren (1953 to 1969, divorced), Deidre Jenkins (1970 to 1981), Adrienne Rodriguez (1984 to 1996, widowed) and Tomi Rae Hynie (2001 to 2006, widowed). He had one child on record.
Groups and bands
- James Brown & The Famous Flames
Discography
182 releases| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Get On Up: The James Brown Story – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Album |
| 2010 | The Complete James Brown Christmas | Album |
| 2009 | Live at the Garden | Album |
| 2007 | The Singles, Volume Four: 1966–1967 | Album |
| 2007 | The Singles, Volume Three: 1964–1965 | Album |
| 2007 | The Singles, Volume Two: 1960–1963 | Album |
| 2006 | The Singles, Volume One: The Federal Years: 1956–1960 | Album |
| 2002 | The Next Step | Album |
| 2001 | School Is In | Single |
| 1999 | The Merry Christmas Album | Album |
| 1998 | Funk on Ah Roll | Single |
| 1998 | I'm Back | Album |
| 1998 | Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68 | Album |
| 1996 | Foundations of Funk – A Brand New Bag: 1964–1969 | Album |
| 1996 | Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang | Album |
Show all 182 releases
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Make It Funky – The Big Payback: 1971–1975 | Album |
| 1995 | Live at the Apollo 1995 | Album |
| 1993 | Can't Get Any Harder | Single |
| 1993 | Universal James | Album |
| 1992 | Love, Power, Peace: Live at the Olympia, Paris, 1971 | Album |
| 1991 | (So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On | Single |
| 1991 | 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! | Album |
| 1991 | Love Over-Due | Album |
| 1991 | Star Time | Album |
| 1989 | Gimme Your Love | Single |
| 1989 | Roots of a Revolution | Album |
| 1989 | Soul Session Live | Album |
| 1988 | I'm Real | Album |
| 1988 | I'm Real | Single |
| 1988 | Live at Chastain Park | Album |
| 1988 | Motherlode | Album |
| 1988 | Static | Single |
| 1987 | How Do You Stop | Single |
| 1986 | Gravity | Single |
| 1986 | Gravity | Album |
| 1986 | In the Jungle Groove | Album |
| 1985 | Living in America | Single |
| 1984 | Unity | Single |
| 1983 | Bring It On! | Album |
| 1983 | Bring It On...Bring It On | Single |
| 1981 | Live in New York | Album |
| 1981 | Nonstop! | Album |
| 1981 | Stay With Me | Single |
| 1980 | Hot on the One | Album |
| 1980 | People | Album |
| 1980 | Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses) | Single |
| 1980 | Regrets | Single |
| 1980 | Soul Syndrome | Album |
| 1979 | It's Too Funky in Here | Single |
| 1979 | Star Generation | Single |
| 1979 | The Original Disco Man | Album |
| 1978 | Eyesight | Single |
| 1978 | For Goodness Sakes, Look at Those Cakes | Single |
| 1978 | Jam 1980's | Album |
| 1978 | Take a Look at Those Cakes | Album |
| 1978 | The Spank | Single |
| 1977 | Give Me Some Skin | Single |
| 1977 | If You Don't Give a Doggone About It | Single |
| 1977 | Kiss in 77 | Single |
| 1977 | Mutha's Nature | Album |
| 1977 | Solid Gold: 30 Golden Hits | Album |
| 1976 | Bodyheat | Single |
| 1976 | Bodyheat | Album |
| 1976 | Get Up Offa That Thing | Album |
| 1976 | Get Up Offa That Thing | Single |
| 1976 | Hot | Album |
| 1976 | I Refuse to Lose | Single |
| 1975 | Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump | Album |
| 1975 | Hot (I Need to Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved) | Single |
| 1975 | Hustle!!! (Dead on It) | Single |
| 1975 | Sex Machine Today | Album |
| 1975 | Superbad, Superslick | Single |
| 1974 | Funky President (People It's Bad) / Coldblooded | Single |
| 1974 | Hell | Album |
| 1974 | My Thang | Single |
| 1974 | Papa Don't Take No Mess | Single |
| 1974 | Reality | Single |
| 1974 | Reality | Album |
| 1974 | Soul Power | Single |
| 1974 | The Payback | Single |
| 1974 | The Payback | Album |
| 1973 | Black Caesar | Album |
| 1973 | Down and Out in New York City | Single |
| 1973 | Sexy, Sexy, Sexy | Single |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (album) | Album |
| 1973 | Stoned to the Bone | Single |
| 1973 | Woman | Single |
| 1972 | Get on the Good Foot | Single |
| 1972 | Get on the Good Foot | Album |
| 1972 | I Got a Bag of My Own | Single |
| 1972 | I Got Ants in My Pants | Single |
| 1972 | Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing | Single |
| 1972 | There It Is | Single |
| 1972 | There It Is | Album |
| 1972 | What My Baby Needs Now Is a Little More Lovin' | Single |
| 1971 | Escape-ism | Single |
| 1971 | Hot Pants | Single |
| 1971 | Hot Pants | Album |
| 1971 | I'm a Greedy Man | Single |
| 1971 | Make It Funky | Single |
| 1971 | Revolution of the Mind | Album |
| 1971 | Sho' Is Funky Down Here | Album |
| 1971 | Super Bad | Album |
| 1970 | Ain't It Funky | Album |
| 1970 | Brother Rapp | Single |
| 1970 | Get Up Sex Machine | Single |
| 1970 | Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved | Single |
| 1970 | Hey America | Album |
| 1970 | Hey America | Single |
| 1970 | It's a New Day | Single |
| 1970 | It's a New Day – Let a Man Come In | Album |
| 1970 | Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay | Single |
| 1970 | Sex Machine | Album |
| 1970 | Soul on Top | Album |
| 1970 | Super Bad | Single |
| 1969 | Ain't It Funky Now | Single |
| 1969 | Gettin' Down to It | Album |
| 1969 | Give It Up or Turnit a Loose | Single |
| 1969 | I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing | Single |
| 1969 | It's a Mother | Album |
| 1969 | Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn | Single |
| 1969 | Lowdown Popcorn | Single |
| 1969 | Mother Popcorn | Single |
| 1969 | Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud | Album |
| 1969 | Soul Pride | Single |
| 1969 | The Popcorn | Single |
| 1969 | The Popcorn | Album |
| 1969 | World | Single |
| 1968 | A Soulful Christmas | Album |
| 1968 | America Is My Home | Single |
| 1968 | I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me | Album |
| 1968 | I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry | Single |
| 1968 | James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul | Album |
| 1968 | Licking Stick – Licking Stick | Single |
| 1968 | Live at the Apollo, Volume II | Album |
| 1968 | Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud | Single |
| 1968 | Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things | Album |
| 1968 | Tit for Tat (Ain't No Taking Back) | Single |
| 1967 | Cold Sweat | Album |
| 1967 | Cold Sweat | Single |
| 1967 | Get It Together | Single |
| 1967 | I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me) | Single |
| 1967 | James Brown Plays the Real Thing | Album |
| 1967 | James Brown Sings Raw Soul | Album |
| 1967 | Let Yourself Go | Single |
| 1967 | The James Brown Show | Album |
| 1966 | Don't Be a Dropout | Single |
| 1966 | Handful of Soul | Album |
| 1966 | I Got You (I Feel Good) | Album |
| 1966 | It's a Man's Man's Man's World | Single |
| 1966 | It's a Man's Man's Man's World | Album |
| 1966 | James Brown Plays New Breed | Album |
| 1966 | James Brown Sings Christmas Songs | Album |
| 1966 | Mighty Instrumentals | Album |
| 1966 | Money Won't Change You | Single |
| 1966 | Sweet Little Baby Boy | Single |
| 1965 | I Got You (I Feel Good) | Single |
| 1965 | James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday | Album |
| 1965 | Papa's Got a Brand New Bag | Single |
| 1965 | Papa's Got a Brand New Bag | Album |
| 1964 | Grits & Soul | Album |
| 1964 | Maybe the Last Time | Single |
| 1964 | Oh Baby Don't You Weep | Single |
| 1964 | Out of Sight | Single |
| 1964 | Out of Sight | Album |
| 1964 | Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal | Album |
| 1964 | Showtime | Album |
| 1963 | Every Beat of My Heart | Single |
| 1963 | Live at the Apollo | Album |
| 1963 | Prisoner of Love | Album |
| 1962 | Good, Good, Twistin' | Album |
| 1962 | I've Got Money | Single |
| 1962 | James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. | Album |
| 1962 | Mashed Potatoes U.S.A. | Single |
| 1961 | Just You and Me, Darling | Single |
| 1960 | I'll Go Crazy | Single |
| 1960 | This Old Heart | Single |
| 1960 | You've Got the Power | Single |
| 1958 | Try Me | Single |
| Froggy Mix | Single | |
| Goodbye My Love | Single | |
| James Brown's Funky Christmas | Album |
Awards and nominations
5 won, 0 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1986 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Won | |
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
| MOJO Awards | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won |
Filmography
18 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Paper Chasers | Film | |
| 2002 | The Tuxedo | Film | |
| 2002 | Undercover Brother | Film | |
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Film | |
| 1998 | Holy Man | Film | |
| 1997– | Behind the Music | TV series | |
| 1986– | American Masters | TV series | |
| 1985 | Rocky IV | Film | |
| 1983 | Doctor Detroit | Film | |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Film | |
| 1968 | James Brown: Man to Man | Film | |
| 1968 | Live at the Boston Garden: April 5, 1968 | Film | |
| 1961 | Gun Street | Film | |
| 1960 | Five Guns to Tombstone | Film | |
| 1953 | The Charge at Feather River | Film |
Show all 18 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Springfield Rifle | Film | |
| 1950 | Anna Lucasta | Film | |
| 1950 | The Fireball | Film |
James Brown on Social Media
Counts with the date they were readJames Brown Photos
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Photo: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: MikaV · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Testefye · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Roger Woolman · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Robbie Drexhage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Koen Suyk / Anefo · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Heinrich Klaffs · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Uncredited photographer for the Jambalaya · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: ABC Television · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
How old was James Brown at the time of death?
James Brown died on 25 December 2006 at the age of 73. He was born on 3 May 1933.
What was James Brown’s cause of death?
According to Wikidata, James Brown died on 25 December 2006; the recorded cause of death is listed as heart failure and pneumonia.
What is James Brown known for?
James Brown was known as a former member of James Brown & The Famous Flames.
What is James Brown’s nationality?
James Brown was American, born in Barnwell.
How tall was James Brown?
James Brown was 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) tall.
Who was James Brown married to?
James Brown’s marriages on record are to Tomi Rae Hynie (2001 to 2006), Adrienne Rodriguez (1984 to 1996), Deidre Jenkins (1970 to 1981) and Velma Warren (1953 to 1969).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q5950), accessed October 2026
- Follower counts: dated individually above
- Photo: Koen Suyk / Anefo · CC0
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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