About
James Brown
Overview
James Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter, eventually referred to as "The Godfather of Soul"(GFOS). Brown started singing in gospel groups and worked his way on up. He has been recognized as one of the most iconic figures in the 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing. He was also called "the hardest-working man in show business".
Brown began his professional music career in 1956 and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was also a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s.
Known for
Acting |
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| 2024 | James Brown: Say It Loud | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 69 Fair |
| 2022 | Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2021 | Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2021 | The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago' | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 58 Average |
| 2021 | Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2021 | Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2019 | Africa Rising | Actor | Self - Musician (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2019 | The Apollo | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2018 | 1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2016 | A Tale of James Brown | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2015 | Les Fous du Funk | Actor | Self | 69 Fair |
| 2014 | The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 2014 | James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2014 | Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2014 | Finding the Funk | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2012 | Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2011 | The Real Rocky | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2009 | Soul Power | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2009 | Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2008 | James Brown Live At The Apollo '68 | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2008 | James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968 | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2008 | Pavarotti The Duets | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2008 | James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2007 | The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977 | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2006 | George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2006 | Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2005 | Live 8 | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2005 | Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music | Actor | Self | 70 Good |
| 2005 | Robots | Actor | Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited) | 63 Fair |
| 2004 | James Brown: Live | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2004 | James Brown: Body Heat | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2004 | Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2004 | TV in Black: The First Fifty Years | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2003 | James Brown: Soul Survivor | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2003 | Paper Chasers | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2003 | The Giants of Black Music | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2002 | Beat the Devil | Actor | Mr. James Brown | 60 Fair |
| 2002 | The Tuxedo | Actor | James Brown | 57 Average |
| 2002 | Undercover Brother | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 2002 | It's Black Entertainment | Actor | Self (archive footage) | 59 Average |
| 2001 | Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2001 | The UB40: Story of Reggae | Actor | Drummer | N/A N/A |
| 1999 | James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Actor | Cleophus James | 55 Average |
| 1996 | When We Were Kings | Actor | Self | 64 Fair |
| 1995 | The History of Rock 'n' Roll | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1995 | Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1993 | RapLine | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1991 | James Brown Live in Berlin | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 1991 | The Lost James Brown Tapes | Actor | Vocals | N/A N/A |
| 1989 | Legends of Rock 'n' Roll | Actor | James Brown | 59 Average |
| 1987 | James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1985 | Rocky IV | Actor | The Godfather of Soul | 69 Fair |
| 1985 | James Brown - Live At Chastain Park | Actor | Himself | 59 Average |
| 1983 | When the Music's Over | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1983 | Doctor Detroit | Actor | Bandleader | 58 Average |
| 1981 | James Brown: Live at Montreux | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1980 | The Blues Brothers | Actor | Cleophus James | 75 Good |
| 1978 | James Brown Soul Brother No. 1 | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 1974 | The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974 | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1974 | James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974 | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1971 | James Brown: Love Power Peace | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1970 | The Phynx | Actor | James Brown | 58 Average |
| 1965 | Ski Party | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 1964 | The T.A.M.I. Show | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
Sound |
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| 1992 | Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution | Sound | Songs | N/A N/A |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder | Sound | Songs | 70 Good |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip Off | Sound | Music | 58 Average |
| 1973 | Black Caesar | Sound | Original Music Composer | 59 Average |