20/09/2022
Love šš him
Louis Lo Mascolo āThereās something you have to understand. James Brown was not put together in a studio by a promoterālike most of these handmade groups that are out there today. James Brown was born out of a needāa need to survive. He didnāt start dancing because he liked to dance. He did it to get nickels and dimes from soldiers. I mean, thatās what this kid did. He came from nothing.ā
Brown was notoriously meticulous with the development of his career. āWriting, recording, touring, and performing six nights a week, he demanded the same loyalty, attention to detail, and work ethic from everyone on his teamāfrom the backup dancers to his percussionist. In fact, he would fine his band members for missing notes or performing with unshined shoes. He was hardheaded and he was a perfectionist, and I found the people around him to be very professional, even subservient. In his presence, everyone referred to him as Mr Brown, or Mr James Brown. No one called him James, no one. And he treated people with the same respect. Everyone was a āMister.āā
-by Caterina Minthe, Vogue
Photo by Christian SIMONPIETRI/Sygma