In their own words: Fans remember James Brown

(Editor's note: Listed below are reminiscences of James Brown posted by his fans on The Augusta Chronicle's augusta.com blog. To read more comments or post your own, visit the Web site at blogs.augusta.com/node/613.)

I remember as a child watching Mr. Brown on the black-and-white television at home. Watching him dance was a sight to see!

He used to own a couple of radio stations and a nightclub here in Augusta. I remember when I had just turned legal age and finally could get into the nightclub. I used to be amazed at seeing the aquarium when you first walked in the door - this was the mid-to-late 1970s.

I remember when my ex used to play as one of the house band members at Leon's Desoto on Ninth Street (now James Brown Boulevard). Leon Austin (who was one of Mr. Brown's close friends) owned the club. On occasion, Mr. Brown would stop by and sit in with the house band. I would have a front-row seat.

He was always gracious and kind to me - to me, he never acted like the "star" when meeting his fans. Now if you were a musician like my ex, he gave you hell - because he was a perfectionist in his craft. You had to play - and be on time - or your behind would be docked pay - major pay. That is why he is a legend.

Without Mr. Brown, people such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Terence Trent D'Arby - even current singers such as Justin Timberlake - would not have a career today.

Mr. Brown not only gave prominence to what black performers were doing in the 1950s and '60s, he gave to all races a bare-bones understanding of what music does to the soul. And for that, I will miss him.

R.I.P., Mr. Dynamite.

Deborah "Deb" Hemingway, Augusta

Mr. James Brown is my favorite male vocalist. His music and beats are a heavy influence of my life. I have nothing but love and kindness for him. Artists such as he were also key to my political stand. No other entertainer said it best about my onyx heritage.

I was shocked to hear that James Brown passed away.

I remember back in the 1960s and '70s when I was a little girl ... . Mr. Brown's mother lived down the street, about a half-mile down the road from my parent's house. We would sit on the front porch to see him pass by. Mr. Brown's mother lived beside Drew Funeral Home on the left up on the hill in Toccoa, Ga. Every time he came in, I would go to the front yard with my brothers, with Mom and Dad on the porch. He would see us, he would have his driver blow the horn and he would roll down his window and wave at us.

I love his music. I love the songs he sung; I Feel Good was my favorite. I love that song. Now he is up in heaven making them all feel good. Mr. Brown, thank you for making a little girl's dream come true to see you when you came by and wave at me and my brothers. Thanks for the memories I have now in my heart. God be with you, Mr. Brown, and your family. Mr. Brown, you do not know how you made a little girl and her family feel with you coming by and waving. I love you, James Brown, and your music will live on.

Go rest in peace, Mr. Brown. We all will see you again in heaven.

James Brown was such an icon that it would hardly ever cross one's mind that he would ever die!

I first met Mr. Brown in 1992 as a fresh-out-of-college freelance journalist for an entertainment tabloid at the now-defunct Jack The Rapper Family Affair music industry convention in Atlanta. Talking to him wasn't like your typical two-way interview (and he preferred it that way). It was like a conversation between a father and son - about God, the music business, life, etc.

My prayers go out to my former radio colleague, Deanna Brown, and her family; the Augusta radio community that touched by Mr. Brown in one way or another; all of his fans such as I; etc.

We've been snapped into reality that Mr. Brown's physically mortal, but no doubt he's musically and historically immortal!

mvoliphant

My memory of Mr. James Brown goes back to when I was a pupil at Silas X. Floyd Elementary School. I was a seventh-grade pupil of the late Ms. Laura Garvin. Each year, Mr. Brown would come to visit her because of the impact she made on his life. Mr. Brown never forgot where he came from. It was a pleasure to wait with anticipation for him to visit our school because he would always stress that we as pupils needed to strive to get the best education possible.

Augusta, Ga., has lost a true pioneer and icon. I ask that God comfort and give his family strength during this most difficult time. As we mourn the loss of Mr. Brown, let us - as citizens of Augusta, Ga. - strive to follow his example in that we must love one another and come together for the common good of this community. Remember his words: It is not about race, but about doing what is right and good so that everyone can benefit by allowing love to be your guiding principle.

Rest in peace, Godfather, because you have gone on to be with the Lord.

I'm in shock - my hero is gone. Mr. Brown is loved the world over, I've been reading tributes from England, France, South Africa, Israel, Thailand, Australia and everywhere.

We truly Lost Someone this morning - a million to one, someone who's brighter than a star. Even the president of the United States offered his condolences to the Godfather of Soul.

Mr. Brown was an original musical force who will never, ever be duplicated again.

Aldean Riley, Louisville, Ky.