Kill ‘Em and Leave

James Brown was bigger than life. He had a big personality, a big heart, and big troubles. Some were his fault, and others were caused by meddlers. By now, most people recognize that Mr. Brown was a complicated man, or at the very least, misunderstood. He gave so much of himself, and yet demanded so much in return. In his heart of hearts, however, it seems he truly wanted to not only entertain people, but also help those who needed it. With that in mind its a crying shame even disgusting what has happened to his legacy. James McBride digs deep and relays several emotional stories from those who knew Brown personally (though notably missing is Maceo Parker) and sheds much needed light on the quagmire of events that took place after Mr. Browns death. Particularly enlightening are the interviews with David Cannon and Buddy Dallas. In the aftermath of Browns death, the media portrayed Cannon and Dallas as blood sucking leeches. Once you read McBrides account youll see them and what happen to them in a whole different light.

After reading the book, all I could do was shake my head in disbelief that so many people stubbornly refuse to do the right thing and honor Mr. Browns final wishes and help maintain his legacy. The man should be honored for his positive contributions. People are squabbling over his money, control of his estate even his body. From what Ive read few people even know where and in what manner the man is buried. His last home should be open like Graceland, and the fans allowed to pay their respects. Prince hasnt been dead a year and they already have his house/studio open to the public!

I could not put this book down until I finished reading it. McBride does a fantastic job of describing the local politics and social context of the Augusta area, as well presenting a variety of revealing and moving interviews from those who knew Mr. Brown. True fans might even shed a tear.

I loved James Brown, and it’s clear from page one that James McBride also loved James Brown. However, my impression of his book is that there’s too much of the author and not enough of the subject. I was keen to read more about JB, but found my reading time being hijacked by the author’s personal story when I was hoping to gain enlightening new insights about the Godfather of Soul.
The beginning of the book is loaded down with too many attempts at establishing black credibility. While I understood the author’s anger over an inaccurate TV show about Brown, I disagree that one needs to be black to write credibly about James Brown. I wasn’t wowed by cliches like “growing up in the projects”, “eating pork, grits and collards” nor by the name-dropping of formerly tough neighborhoods in New York City like St Albans and Red Hook. Finally, I’m suspicious about the author’s claim that all black artists are consumed with deep foreboding fear of whites at every moment of their lives. I’m not sure all black artists would agree, but I am sure that black artists don’t have a monopoly on feelings of fear and insecurity.
There’s altogether too much hyperbole. Yes, James Brown was a phenomenal artist, a true originator, musically brilliant and perhaps even a genius. But was he in fact “the most misrepresented African-American figure of the past 300 years”? Should he be lionized so extravagantly as to claim that he is “perhaps as influential” as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas? And did he really “overshadow every single major black star of the 50s, 60s, and 70s” — including artists McBride lists like Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, and the nearly divine Aretha Franklin? Such comparisons are forced and have no place in a serious biography.
After the first two chapters I couldn’t take it any more, so I skimmed through the rest of the book looking for salient information about the hero. There is some, but not enough to justify the book as a new or important biography. It seems more an entreaty to the reader to believe that in the process of sniffing out the faded trail of James Brown’s life, the author has gained some unique insights into the human condition and race relations in America. Whether he has or not, I will leave up to you to judge.

James McBride is such a good writer. He takes you “there”, you are in the woods of South Carolina, you are in segregated 1940’s Augusta, with a motherless child when fortune shines on him and he developes a friendship with another boy his age and that friendship will sustain him throughout his lifetime. I am a James Brown fan. The first concert I ever attended was his show at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles in the sixties. I was mesmerized by the band, the sound, the man, his performance…..( that cape!).. I even met James Brown after the concert at VIP records where he
was signing autographs. So my relationship with James goes way back. I loved this book, it was real, it was “deep”, it made very astute and insightful observations into the black experience in America which by the way is even more relevant today. The book is as much about James Brown as it is about the music industry, and the legal system which revictimized James Brown and his incredibly stupid, and greedy heirs.I read this book after reading Colson Whitehead “Underground Railroad”. That book left an imprint on my soul with its beautiful prose and tragic, incredibly barbaric retelling of the horrors of slavery which tried and failed to destroy the pure joy, intelligence and creativity of black people. This book had me listening to “Night Train” and baking a peach cobbler and being swept away by the telling of the story. James Brown and John Coltrane, James McBride and Colson Whitehead, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison… Barack and Michele Obama…..collard greens and gumbo…. but still we”rise”. James McBride and Colson Whitehead should be required reading for everyone who loves the music and life that is the black
experience in America.

Love this book. Hardback, in near new condition. Had to read this book, after I watched the movie about Mr Brown. The film didn’t show us what happened to his children. After reading the first few pages of this book you realised the movie was poking fun at him. He didn’t shoot the rifle and his mum lived with him. You feel, the book gives insight into the real James Brown

If any idiot doesn’t understand why or how ‘Black Lives Matter’ – especially if they live this side of the pond in UK – this book will ram home the prejudice, cruelty, injustice done to USA ethnic minorities by the powers that be. That’s on top of revealing so many illuminating truths about this man who literally moved so many of us – and still does! James Brown did his damnedest to overcome. Greedy bastards to this day prevent his legacy from doing so. You will be angry reading this, but hear his music in a more three-dimensional way. Essential reading for any lover of funk, justice and change.

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