James Brown

Biography

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter and dancer who helped shape funk music. Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, he started out singing gospel in Toccoa, Georgia, and in the mid-1950s fronted the Famous Flames, whose ballads Please, Please, Please and Try Me made his name. His 1963 live album Live at the Apollo sold more than a million copies, and Papa's Got a Brand New Bag won him his first Grammy in 1965. I Got You (I Feel Good) and It's a Man's Man's Man's World followed. With the J.B.'s he defined funk on records such as Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine. He appeared in films including The T.A.M.I. Show (1964), The Blues Brothers (1980) and Rocky IV (1985), which featured his hit Living in America. He was among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's first inductees, and he died in 2006.

73years old at death

Born May 3, 1933Barnwell
Died December 25, 2006Atlanta
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
James Joseph Brown (birth name)Also credited as The Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite and Soul Brother #1ffff

Movie Career

Films: 12
Career span: 57 years1964 to 2021

Genres

Documentary50%, 6 films
Comedy42%, 5 films
Action33%, 4 films
Music33%, 4 films
Biography17%, 2 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Brown financed a live recording at the Apollo in 1962 and convinced Syd Nathan to release it, despite Nathan's belief that live albums did not sell. The album became a hit, reaching number two and selling over a million copies.
A first
After signing a new deal with King, Brown put out "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" in 1965. The song gave him his first top-ten pop hit and his first Grammy Award.
A first
Brown held the record for the most singles that appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart without reaching No. 1.
A first
On January 23, 1986, Brown became one of the first ten people inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A first
In 2013 Brown was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame's first class as an artist, and in 2017 he was inducted again as a songwriter.

James Brown movies on Netflix

Sunday Best2021IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage2021IMDb rating 7.1as Himself
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown2014IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
It's Black Entertainment2002IMDb rating 6.9as Himself
The Tuxedo2002IMDb rating 5.4as James Brown
Undercover Brother2002IMDb rating 5.9as Himself
Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9as Cleophus James
Holy Man1998IMDb rating 5.0as James Brown
When We Were Kings1996IMDb rating 7.9as Himself
Rocky IV1985IMDb rating 6.9as The Godfather of Soul
The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9as Reverend Cleophus James
The T.A.M.I. Show1964IMDb rating 8.3as Himself

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Blues Brothers1980 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Reverend Cleophus James
IMDb rating 7.9232K votes
Rocky IV1985 Drama, Sportas The Godfather of Soul
IMDb rating 6.9250K votes
Blues Brothers 20001998as Cleophus James
IMDb rating 4.936K votes
The Tuxedo2002as James Brown
IMDb rating 5.495K votes
The T.A.M.I. Show1964as Himself
IMDb rating 8.31.1K votes
When We Were Kings1996as Himself
IMDb rating 7.919K votes
Holy Man1998as James Brown
IMDb rating 5.022K votes
Undercover Brother2002as Himself
IMDb rating 5.938K votes

Most often with

John Landis directed two of these films. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Dan Aykroyd

Kathleen Freeman

Ray Charles

Aretha Franklin

B.B. King

Willie Hall

John LandisDirector, 2 films

Films together

Dan Aykroyd2 films together, 1980 to 1998
Dan Aykroyd's page
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus JamesAykroyd as Elwood Blues
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus JamesAykroyd as Elwood Blues
Kathleen Freeman2 films together, 1980 to 1998
Kathleen Freeman's page
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus JamesFreeman as Mother Mary Stigmata
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus JamesFreeman as Sister Mary Stigmata
Ray Charles2 films together, 1980 to 2021
Ray Charles's page
- Sunday Best2021IMDb rating 7.8Brown as HimselfCharles as Himself
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus JamesCharles as Ray
Aretha Franklin2 films together, 1980 to 1998
Aretha Franklin's page
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus JamesFranklin as Mrs. Murphy
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus JamesFranklin as Mrs. Murphy
B.B. King2 films together, 1996 to 1998
B.B. King's page
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus JamesKing as Malvern Gasperon
- When We Were Kings1996IMDb rating 7.9Brown as HimselfKing as Himself
Willie Hall2 films together, 1980 to 1998
Willie Hall's page
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus JamesHall as Willie Hall
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus JamesHall as Willie 'Too Big' Hall
John LandisDirector, 2 films, 1980 to 1998
All films by John Landis
- Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9Brown as Cleophus James
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Brown as Reverend Cleophus James

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1986 to 1992, one of them major.

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James Brown's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Grammy Awards
1992	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award	Won
Other honors
1986	Rock and Roll Hall of Fame	Won
	Kennedy Center Honors	Won
	MOJO Awards	Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame	Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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