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Open House

Remembering James Brown

Aired December 30, 2006 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(MUSIC)
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wow, a celebration of a life well lived.

Good afternoon. You are joining in progress CNN's live coverage of the farewell tour, the memorial service being held now in Augusta, Georgia, honoring the life and legend of James Brown, with music there from allie Ali Woodson, a former member of The temptations, being hugged by MC Hammer.

I'm Carol Lin at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. And we are sharing with you this afternoon the historic moments here both in James Brown's life -- we are also covering the arrival of President ford's body at the nation's capital, which begins five more days of official national mourning. And we're covering events around the world.

But as we take a look at this view in Augusta, Georgia, a place where James Brown spent much of his childhood and where this arena was named after him, where really just weeks ago James Brown's generosity was extended to children who didn't have any Christmas presents, he gave out gifts. He's been responsible for just a number of charities and goodwill in Augusta. And this is that city's opportunity to give back a little.

Let's listen in.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he was like a father to us. And Mr. -- Reverend Sharpton had us come today. I had no idea I was going to be doing this. And he's another part of the family.

And as we pay tribute to the Godfather of Soul, remembering that this is a funeral and we want to treat it as such, but it's a home- going celebration. I remember sister -- our dear sister Deanna Brown (ph) says, "Mr. Flash, it's gonna be a home-going celebration."

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we've got our dear brother come now.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a young man you're destined to hear about a lot in days to come. He went with us a few years back, and we recorded a song which sold over a million singles. And we used the sample of a James Brown song. And some of you may remember it. And those who don't, we'll tell you about it later on. But right now, we just want to introduce this young man who is a part of the extended James Brown family, Mr. Derrick Monk.

(MUSIC)

LIN: It just makes me want to say, let's hear it for Minister Derrick Monk.

Joining me right now is Christopher John Farley. He's with "The Wall Street Journal," former music critic with "TIME."

Christopher, didn't you just want to stand up and shout?

CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY, MUSIC EDITOR, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Yes.

LIN: And here is a man who owes so much to James Brown. He was a protege of the man, wasn't he?

FARLEY: Yes. And also, you know, James Brown got his start in gospel music before he started the Flames, the Famous Flames. He actually was a gospel singer.

And the group just sort of gradually shifted into doing soul and R&b and later funk. So what you're really hearing when you hear gospel music is the roots of this man, where he came from, where he got his start.

LIN: And the passion. You know, I know the minister gets out there, right? And we all know that, you know, he is filled with the spirit of his music and in his life the spirit of God. But he called this a home-going celebration.

So when we take a look at James Brown's life, if he were looking down upon this scene, what would he be saying about the spectacle that's before us today?

FARLEY: Well, I think he'd like it because he enjoyed this kind of spectacle in his -- in his act. I mean, we see also that, you know, he's also, you know, changed clothes since we saw him in New York. And that was James Brown was about, costume changes.

At one point he was said to have had 500 suits, a very disciplined band. And so when we see a celebration like this taking place where, you know, there's a gold casket and he's changed suits and there's a lot of mystery about who is going to come out and actually perform, that's the kind of show biz touches that we think that James Brown would have appreciated, given the way he ran his act.

LIN: Can we agree that's unconventional at best, after you pass away that you go through a wardrobe change?

FARLEY: Well, he was an unconventional guy. I mean, he's a guy, who, you know, we all know his famous routine where, you know, he comes out and someone drapes a cape over him, and they walked him off, and then he runs back on, and he's overcome by emotion and he runs back on again. Well, he got that in part from professional wrestling because he was really impressed by the way in which people in professional wrestling really conducted themselves and had a lot of show business attached to what they were doing. And he brought it into his own act.

So, I think that when we see a spectacular sort of celebration like this taking place, this is pure James Brown. This is what he was about. He was the hardest-working man in show business, and he loved show business.

LIN: And a man who could, after his passing, fill this arena with more than 8,000 people. And when you see the camera panning over the crowd, people on their feet, clapping, dancing. You know, "Hallelujah." They are standing there in the midst not only of a legend, but what they see as truly a glorious and happy day, his homecoming.

FARLEY: Yes, definitely. I mean, he's back in Augusta where it started for him. He actually was born in Barnwell, South Carolina. But, you know, he moved to Augusta when he was young and grew up here, so he had a lot of memories attached to this town. And it's a place that he came back to often and a place that had a lot of roots connected to him.

I mean, they only recently renamed the civic center that we're seeing here the James Brown Arena about a year ago or so. So -- but the community recognizes its connections to James Brown.

James Brown recognized his connections to this community. And so I think that's why you're seeing so many people come into this building. I mean, 8,000, filled to capacity, more outside, because he was such a favorite son of this area.

LIN: And as we're watching some of the live pictures coming out of the arena, we just saw the stage. It's now panning over the crowd. But they were setting up for two more groups to perform, the Soul Generals & Bittersweet.

Christopher, stand by there right now.

I want to check in with our Catherine Callaway who's outside the arena.

Catherine, so many people still just trying to get inside.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I don't believe they're going to get inside. No, they're terribly disappointed. We should point out, though, thousands were able to get in to the arena today and file past the casket, but only a lucky 8,100 was allowed to stay in.

And with me now is Carmen Hunter. She has traveled all the way to -- from Chicago here.

And you were not able to get in. I know you're disappointed.

CARMEN HUNTER, JAMES BROWN FAN: Yes, but it's still great just to be here.

CALLAWAY: Why did you want to come so far from Chicago, all the way to Augusta, Georgia?

HUNTER: I grew up listening to James Brown. The last time I saw him I was 16 years old at the Regal Theater on Chicago's south side.

CALLAWAY: And you wanted your daughter as well to see...

HUNTER: Yes, I wanted her to be able to say when she got older she was here.

CALLAWAY: What time did you arrive here at the arena?

HUNTER: We got -- well, probably about 12:00.

CALLAWAY: Yes. And by then...

HUNTER: Right. We were so late.

CALLAWAY: ... the doors were already closed.

HUNTER: Yes.

CALLAWAY: Well, what do you think of Augusta? This is his home. This is where he's from.

HUNTER: It's nice. Driving here was like driving through Iowa. Yes, I was just glad that we were able to make it. I wouldn't have missed it.

CALLAWAY: All right. Well, we're glad you were able to speak with us today. We're so sorry you weren't able to get in the arena.

HUNTER: Yes.

CALLAWAY: But she's not alone. There are thousands standing behind me still hoping to get in, Carol. But it's just not going to happen. A lot of people are actually watching what's going on in the arena on our tiny little monitor out here.

And a few moments ago I heard you speaking about how unconventional this is, this whole ceremony. And Frank Copsidas, his manager, Brown's manager, said to me this is exactly what Brown would have wanted, to have someone like Derrick Monk singing over his coffin to him, to have all of these people come from all over the country, exactly what he wanted, including a fantastic wardrobe change.

LIN: Right. Right. Three wardrobe changes over three days. James Brown...

CALLAWAY: Yes.

LIN: ... in the moment there as we're taking a look at live pictures of the crowd in the James Brown Arena.

The Soul Generals -- oh, there's Michael Jackson arriving, there taking his bows before the crowd, there to pay his respects to a soul legend, James Brown. He's getting seated there, Michael Jackson, as everybody is about to get ready to listen in to the Soul Generals & Bittersweet perform.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and Gentlemen -- Ladies and Gentlemen, standing here on stage, a group of young men that helped give the world some of its greatest soul classics.

So if you will, let's welcome the Soul Generals.

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LIN: All right. Bringing you live pictures from the memorial service in Augusta, Georgia, the James Brown Arena.

You're listening to the Soul Generals & Bittersweet. In fact, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and the Soul Generals were actually scheduled to perform in mid January up in Prince George, Canada. The Soul Generals now performing at James Brown's memorial service, or as they're calling it, the home-going celebration.

Now, shortly before that performance, we saw none other than Michael Jackson arriving front and center at that performance there. Michael Jackson there in the long hair there.

Also, the Reverend Al Sharpton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Michael Jackson for a brief moment bending over the casket of James Brown and kissing the Godfather of Soul on his forehead before he took a seat and took in the performance of the Soul Generals & Bittersweet. So many notables coming here. More than 8,000 people packed into that arena today.

Christopher John Farley with us from "The Wall Street Journal," a former music critic with "TIME" magazine, and certainly an expert on the life of James Brown.

As we're taking in these pictures, Christopher, you know, what do you make of that threesome there at the casket, as Michael Jackson there bending over the casket, Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson? What comes to mind?

FARLEY: Well, a lot's going on there. I mean, Michael Jackson, a guy who early in his career really drew a lot of his act from James Brown, from watching him dance. A lot of the cuteness factor in early Michael Jackson was the fact that here was a young child sounding like a mature performer like James Brown.

I think also during that performance, I think you saw James Brown's wife, Tomi Rae Brown. I think she joined the backup singers up there on stage.

She, of course, started out singing backup to James Brown. She's now embroiled in a dispute about -- about -- about a house and about whether or not she's actually legally married to James Brown. That's what lawyers will decide. But here she is as part of the celebration.

LIN: And a woman also -- I think one of the Soul Generals introduced her as one of James Brown's daughters dancing onstage. She was all dressed in black, had a heavy gold cross hanging from her neck. Is that right?

FARLEY: Yes, I didn't see that. But, you know, what I find interesting about the Soul Generals is, you know, being in James Brown's band, both one of the best jobs in show business and one of the toughest ones, because he really...

LIN: Really?

FARLEY: ... he really runs his bands ragged. I mean, they have to be tight. They have to be on time.

If you're not on time, you get fired. If you hit a wrong note, you can get fined. If you're caught doing something you shouldn't do, you can get fired or fined.

He really runs his bands in a very -- like a -- like a general. And that's one reason why they're so tight when they're on stage. It's something he's done for an awful long time, because if you're going to play with the hardest-working man in show business...

LIN: Right?

FARLEY: ... you better be prepared to work hard yourself.

LIN: Right, because a lot of us would have given up touring, you know, at the age of 73, and yet he was already booked for an act up on January 17th up in Canada.

FARLEY: Yes. One member of his band once said that, you know, if you're caught with James Brown, you know -- musicians -- I don't think it's any secret that musicians sometimes, you know, like to smoke reefer. That happens with musicians.

But if James Brown catches you in your motel room, and something like that's happening, everyone in the room is fired. That was one of his policies, and that's one reason why his band is so tight. He didn't run it like other bands.

LIN: So how do you reconcile that professional discipline with some of the more troubled aspects of his personal life?

FARLEY: Well, part of that is because, you know, he did grow up on the wrong side of the tracks. He grew up in a very tough way.

His mother left when he was very young. He tells a touching story in his autobiography when he was -- after he played the Apollo Theater one time, his mother showed up after the performance. He hadn't seen her in an awful long time. And he saw her and she had no teeth. And he realized he had to help her out, even though she had abandoned him. So, I mean, when you have that kind of pain in your past, it can resurface in your life later on, no matter how tough you are as a stage disciplinarian. So he was a tough guy. He was a general when it came to running his band. But he did have some of these other demons from early in his life that kept haunting him throughout his life.

LIN: All right. Christopher John Farley with the "Wall Street Journal".

Stand by as we're taking in the live coverage of James Brown's memorial service, his farewell tour at the last stop. You're watching Augusta, Georgia.

We're going to take a quick break all we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back to our live coverage of James Brown's memorial service in Augusta, Georgia.

You're looking at videotape that came into the CNN Center just moments ago. You're looking at Reverend Al Sharpton. The gentleman in the long hair is none other than the pop star Michael Jackson and there Reverend Jesse Jackson with his arms there around Michael Jackson as they pay their last respects to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, laying in a casket at the foot of the stage at the James Brown Arena.

The clothes he is wearing there, that is the third wardrobe change for the Godfather of Soul since he passed away on Christmas morning, passed away from pneumonia. He's 73 years old. But the legend lives on. I mean, we've been watching the coverage here out of the James Brown Arena. It has been incredible. It's hard not to just rock out and feel the joy in that room as they celebrate such a remarkable life. Live pictures there inside the arena.

But let's go outside briefly to Catherine Callaway, who has been standing by.

Catherine, you've been able to just witness personally one an one with the folks out there the tributes that they have given this man and really, the despair that they haven't been able to get inside. Share with us some of the stories that you've been hearing.

CATHERINE CALLOWAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Most of it is disappointment that they didn't get in. But then once you start talking to them they say, but, you know what, I'm in his hometown, I'm in Augusta. And they're just glad to be here among other James Brown fans.

And I have one with me now. This is Steven Smith. And you wouldn't know he is a fan, would you? Look at this. But he actually met James Brown many years ago back in 96 and in 97.

And tell me what you thought of him when you met him. STEVEN SMITH, JAMES BROWN FAN: Well, he's a great -- he's a great performer. As a kid, I had never had a chance to see him perform. So when he came in 96 I was able to see him at the Mystic Lake Casino.

CALLOWAY: Right.

SMITH: And I had an opportunity -- well, actually he came to our radio station in 97. When I seen him in 96, this is when I took this photo here. And in 97 when he came back, I had a chance to sit with him and talk with him and share many things with him.

CALLOWAY: Well, I know you came from Savannah and that you're disappointed that you weren't able to get in here today.

SMITH: Yes, very disappointed.

CALLOWAY: But you're still here, right?

SMITH: I'm here enjoying it with everyone else.

CALLOWAY: And Carol Lin, we should tell you that people are now able to hear what's going on inside. Before this speaker you couldn't really hear it. But they've made some changes. Now they can hear what's going on in there. They still can't see, so they're still all crowded around our monitor.

LIN: And what a sight we're seeing right now, Catherine as I'm watching your coverage there and live pictures inside the arena. The woman that you're watching is Tomi Rae Hynie, James Brown's companion, performing with the passion that we have seen on that stage for this man and his great talent. Let's listen in.

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LIN: Ms. Tomi Rae Hynie, all right. Christopher John Farley, here is a moment of color, you might say. This is a woman who gave birth to James Brown's five year-old son, is that right?

FARLEY: Five years old, yes.

LIN: OK. All right. Tell me what the talk is behind the scenes. We saw James Brown's companion there, all right, a woman who also -- her marital status might have been in dispute with the man, as well as James Brown's daughter dancing on stage. What is that like for the folks there?

FARLEY: An amazing moment really, because, first off, she's involved in all this dispute about whether she's actually married to him. That will have to be sorted out by the legal process. Of course, we all read and heard about her being locked out of what she said was her home, saying she had nowhere to go. And later the manager saying, well, this is all under dispute.

So here she is at the celebration, still celebrating his life, still singing. She is a singer. She was one of his backup singers. It's appropriate that she was up there doing what she does.

But I tell you, you know, rock and roll wise, they have a rough road of it. I mean, you think of, like, Courtney Love and Yoko Ono and Rita Marley. At one time or another they were villainized by the press and by fans or in some sort of dispute. And here is another rock and roll wife, the wife of the Godfather of Soul -- it's under dispute whether she's actually his wife or not -- up on stage, you know, taking in all the criticism, singing her heart out, pouring out her love and admiration.

LIN: Now we're seeing pictures of her. That's Tomi Rae Hynie. That's the woman we're talking about right now.

FARLEY: No, no, that's not her.

LIN: That's not her?

FARLEY: No. The woman who just finished singing, that was Tomi Rae Brown.

LIN: And this woman here?

FARLEY: No, no we saw performing before, who just wrapped up.

LIN: All right.

FARLEY: Are you watching a tape? I may be watching something you're not watching.

LIN: This is a tape.

FARLEY: OK.

LIN: Right. This is Tomi Rae.

FARLEY: Yes, with black hair, yes.

LIN: And a long ponytail.

FARLEY: Yes, I'm looking at a live picture, so someone else is there.

LIN: I got you. All right.

See, we're just trying to keep all the women in James Brown's life straight.

FARLEY: He was married four times, so he did have a lot of women in his life. And Tomi Rae may prove to be the most controversial with what's going on today in the last few weeks.

LIN: How many children did he have?

FARLEY: You know, that number is different. I see on one of the programs listing him as having seven children. But most sources say that he had five children. But on one of the programs that I saw associated with some of these celebrations, they listed seven children. But he actually had five, according to most sources.

LIN: All right. And -- but was music his true child, do you think?

FARLEY: Definitely music was his true child. Music was his family. Music is what he loved.

And this guy was on the road sometimes 360 days of the year. I'm not certain I've worked 360 days in the last ten years. This guy was on the road 360 days of the year. He truly earned his title as the hardest working man in show business.

LIN: All right. Let's listen in. I think we're seeing the Soul Generals still performing at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia.

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LIN: All right. Live pictures at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia, where James Brown -- it's just tempting to say that he's lying in state, his casket, at the foot of the stage where these performances by people who have been his proteges, people who have admired him, family members, even as they're involved in legal disputes, have turned out to honor the man that we call the Godfather of Soul.

More than 8,000 people inside that arena today and hundreds more outside bearing with the rain and the weather for any possible chance that they might be able to go inside at some point and pay their last respects to James Brown.

We did see already some of the notables at the foot of the stage, Michael Jackson, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, who is going to be presiding over the memorial service that is still to come.

Let's listen in.

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) people with Georgia on their minds. And we're going to move on, ladies and gentlemen, because we have more beautiful things to hear by the Godfather of Soul.

But I'd like to say and pay special tribute to man who was there when he was just a famous flame and James Brown together. And also I see a Mr. Johnny Terry (ph) out there, one of the original flames. And they tell me a Mr. Bobby Bennett (ph) was here, came along with the Godfather of Soul out of Toccoa, Georgia. So many faces, that Mr. Austin (ph) all of this crew and people that came along with the Godfather of Soul, not to mention about Mr. Jackson over here and all these guys, and also Mr. Boosey Collins (ph) that we have here that's also along with him. Going to acknowledge a lot of this.

And we're going to move on now. And another gentleman that was there with him, through a lot of ups and downs and help put a lot of these tunes together. I'm speaking of the one and only Mr. Bobby Byrd.

(APPLAUSE)

(MUSIC)

LIN: All right. Live coverage of James Brown's funeral services in Augusta, Georgia. We're going to bring you more.

Stay right there.

(MUSIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of remembering James Brown. You're looking at live pictures out of Augusta, Georgia, the James Brown Arena, where we've been listening to musicians who would say that they owe their careers and many of their talents to the -- to James Brown, who mentored them.

We've been listening to the Soul Generals. We've been listening and watching as a line of celebrities have -- has entered into the arena to pay their respects. Michael Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson.

With me now is Christopher Farley from the "Wall Street Journal", a music critic, someone who has been helping us delve into the details of James Brown's life.

Christopher, people should know, if they're just tuning in, that James Brown's casket is lying at the foot of that stage and that many of these people have been addressing him as if he is truly, in fact, in the room, taking in the performance.

FARLEY: Well, he's still in the room. He's going to be in the room for a long time to come. I think his music will continue to have an impact. And you mentioned before that a lot of folks we have seen owe their careers to them.

Well, one man we saw, Bobby Byrd, to an extent kind of helped James Brown get his career because he was a guy that sponsored James Brown when he got out of jail, when he was a young man. He's a guy that -- let's listen to the stage and see what's going on now. The music has started again.

(MUSIC)

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