Former guitarist for James Brown plugs education

Keith Jenkins got a lucky break.

The Augustan was about to begin college when he auditioned to be a guitarist for James Brown's band, the Soul Generals.

"I was a huge James Brown fan, so I wasn't going to turn that chance down," Mr. Jenkins told children July 29 at the Boys & Girls Club of Augusta's E.W. Hagler unit.

Mr. Jenkins put his college plans on hold for 12 years while he performed in Brown's shows.

"I thought I had beat the system. I was playing for James Brown, traveled all over the world, and I was doing it without going to college," he said.

The way he looked at his future changed when Brown died on Christmas Day 2006.

"As soon as that happened, I knew I had to go back to school," Mr. Jenkins said.

"There's no getting around education. You have to have it."

Mr. Jenkins, a communications major at Augusta State University, stressed to the children that education should be a part of every dream.

"Take advantage of getting an education," he said. "Not everyone is going to be a famous star or athlete, but everyone can get an education. ... There are scholarships and grants out there for you, so there's no excuse for not getting an education."

Though the message was serious, the children had a chance to have fun, too. They danced and sang along as Mr. Jenkins played a few of Brown's songs, and some had the opportunity to play Mr. Jenkins' guitar.

Mr. Jenkins' presentation was a part of Jammin' with James Brown Week at the Hagler unit. He had taken his Brown program to children at the Boys & Girls Club of Augusta's Dogwood Terrace unit earlier in July.

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.