James Brown

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader and performer who died in 2006, known for energetic stage shows and a rhythmically driven vocal style that played a key role in the development of soul and funk. His music featured tight, syncopated grooves, sharp horn stabs, percussive guitar patterns and a strong emphasis on the downbeat, and he led disciplined bands noted for precision and intensity. Brown's rhythmic innovations and performance aesthetic influenced R&B, funk and later genres including hip-hop.