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Nicole Barrett sent out a text message to her special friends on December 25: “Merry Christmas—-in memory of James Brown…Love Nicole B.”
“I was devastated,” said the former Ms. Black Texas, upon learning of his death while on the Internet early that morning. “I am a huge James Brown fan. To me, James Brown defines what entertainment is.” She was disappointed also, she said, in the coverage of the legend’s passing by local radio stations. Sure, she said there were a few mentions, but she expected to hear non –stop musical tributes.
Locally, on most stations targeting African Americans, the regular hosts were on vacation for the holidays so the coverage is expected to continue once many of the regulars return this week. On 105.7, the best of the Steve Harvey Show was played, as was the case on 97.9 with the Rickey Smiley Show. Afternoon Drive guy Skip Cheatham and others from the station sat in for morning show host Skip Murphy and Company on K104FM.
Following Mr. Brown’s death, Tom Joyner, whose Tom Joyner Morning Show is heard on 94.5 FM but played the “Best of” also, issued a statement and announced that upon his return, the TJMS on January 2 would be devoted entirely to James Brown. In his statement he said: “I can’t believe it - the ‘Godfather of Soul’ has passed. This can’t be so. ‘Mother Popcorn’n,’ ‘Papa don’t take no mess,’ ‘The Big Payback,’ ‘It’s a man’s world’ .... These are classics no matter what kind of music you like. His music will last forever... And JB always will be tops on my playlist. My thoughts and blessings to his family and to all the James Brown music lovers who I know are going to be in mourning a long time.”
Tuesday’s show is dedicated to James Brown, says Reach Media Inc.’s Director of Communications Neil Foote. “Of course there will be James Brown music, packages featuring interviews of people who knew James Brown or were influenced by him including Rev. Al Sharpton. KKDA’s Willis Johnson took a few days off, but when he was on the air, you heard James Brown.
“We played the first eight years of his #1 songs,” said Mr. Johnson, who is also a James Brown aficionado. Mr. Johnson referred to Mr. Brown as phenomenal. “When you talk about what he has done, over a span of time,” he said. “Between 1956 and 1985, he had 135 #1 hits. I have an eight-pack CD of his greatest hits. How many entertainers can you name who have enough hits to fill eight CDs?”
Referring to Mr. Brown as “the ultimate showman,” Mr. Johnson recalled a group he belonged to call the “Crooners.” “Part of our lypsynching act was doing ‘Please, Please, Please’ and one time when we were opening up for James Brown, they told us we couldn’t do it.”
Joining Mr. Brown back stage, however, was a highlight for the veteran broadcaster, who also recalled a few years back joining the OJays in Augusta for the “Godfather’s birthday party.” “It’s hard to believe that he’s gone. There will continue to be musical tributes to him. James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Aretha (Franklin) –although she is still alive.—those are people you don’t play with.”
In memory of Mr. Brown, KKDA has been promoting that the best of Mr. Brown will be featured all day Saturday, January 6. Det. Mickey D. East talked about James Brown the activist, the personality who did more than just entertain.
“He was pulling for peace throughout the whole world,” said Mr. East. “He used his status as a celebrity and entertainer to champion peace.” Mr. East said he was at a family holiday gathering in Lawton, OK, when he heard the news. His family was sad for a while but then members began telling “James Brown stories” and their spirits were lifted, he said, just as “James Brown lifted people.”
“He was the people’s entertainer, “he continued. “James Brown was a champion of the people.” For KHVN’s Robert Ashley the death of Mr. Brown was significant.
“I was awestruck,” he said, adding that he didn’t care for the media coverage that focused heavily on Mr. Brown’s run-ins with the law. “He was a powerful brother. KHVN’s format is gospel, however Mr. Brown was discussed on the air, as was the case with Jean Jones on KGCMRadio.com.
“We wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about someone like James Brown, who had such an influence on the world,” she said during a recent broadcast. “His death signaled that God just called another soldier home, Mr. Ashley concluded.
Mr. Johnson summed up the feelings of most. “He was a signature kind of guy who influenced so many people. It gets no better than James Brown.”
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