James Brown Arena (formerly known as Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center ) is a multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, Georgia . It is managed by Spectra Experiences .
118-566: It features an 8,000-seat arena, renamed the James Brown Arena, in honor of musician James Brown on August 22, 2006. The complex also features a 2,800-seat theater, the William B. Bell Auditorium , and a 14,500-square-foot (1,350 m) exhibit hall that opens into a 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m) arena floor. The James Brown Arena is the former home of the ECHL 's Augusta Lynx from 1998 to 2008,
236-593: A cameo appearance in the 2002 Jackie Chan film The Tuxedo , in which Chan was required to finish Brown's act after having accidentally knocked out the singer. In 2002, Brown appeared in Undercover Brother , playing himself. In 2004, Brown opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at several Hyde Park concerts in London. The beginning of 2005 saw the publication of his second book, I Feel Good: A Memoir of
354-417: A time line (such as clave and tresillo ) in that it is not an exact pattern, but more of a loose organizing principle." It was around this time as the musician's popularity increased that he acquired the nickname "Soul Brother No. 1", after failing to win the title "King of Soul" from Solomon Burke during a Chicago gig two years prior. Brown's recordings during this period influenced musicians across
472-500: A Brand New Bag " in 1965, which became his first top ten pop hit and won him his first Grammy Award . Brown signed a production deal with Loma Records . Later in 1965, he issued " I Got You ", which became his second single in a row to reach number-one on the R&;B chart and top ten on the pop chart. Brown followed that up with the ballad " It's a Man's Man's Man's World ", a third Top 10 Pop hit (No. 1 R&B) which confirmed his stance as
590-493: A Life of Soul , written with Marc Eliot. In February and March 2005, he participated in recording sessions for an intended studio album with Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, and other longtime collaborators. Though he lost interest in the album, which remains unreleased, a track from the sessions, " Gut Bucket ", appeared on a compilation CD included with the August 2006 issue of MOJO . He appeared at Edinburgh 50,000 – The Final Push ,
708-434: A Loose ", are examples of Brown's refinement of New Orleans funk; irresistibly danceable riffs, stripped down to their rhythmic essence. On both recordings, the tonal structure is bare bones. The pattern of attack points is the emphasis, not the pattern of pitches as if the guitar were an African drum or idiophone. Alexander Stewart states that this popular feel was passed along from "New Orleans—through James Brown's music, to
826-521: A bond referendum vote. Had the bond referendum passed, the estimated time of completion would have been Fall 2024. Despite low voter turnout, the bond referendum was rejected, forcing the Coliseum Authority to look for alternate sources of funding. In the November 2023 elections, Richmond County residents voted in favor of levying a half-cent special-purpose local-option sales tax to cover the cost of
944-671: A boy. In November 1967, James Brown purchased radio station WGYW in Knoxville, Tennessee , for a reported $ 75,000, according to the January 20, 1968 Record World magazine. The call letters were changed to WJBE reflecting his initials. WJBE began on January 15, 1968, and broadcast a Rhythm & Blues format. The station slogan was "WJBE 1430 Raw Soul". Brown bought WEBB in Baltimore in 1970. Brown branched out to make several recordings with musicians outside his own band. In an attempt to appeal to
1062-805: A car crash. Along with Brown and Byrd, the group consisted of Sylvester Keels, Doyle Oglesby, Fred Pulliam, Nash Knox and Nafloyd Scott. Influenced by R&B groups such as Hank Ballard and the Midnighters , the Orioles and Billy Ward and his Dominoes , the group changed its name, first to the Toccoa Band and then to the Flames. Nafloyd's brother Baroy later joined the group on bass guitar. Brown, Byrd and Keels switched lead positions and instruments, often playing drums and piano. Johnny Terry later joined, by which time Pulliam and Oglesby had long left. Berry Trimier became
1180-455: A career as a boxer. At the age of 16, he was convicted of robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center in Toccoa . There, he formed a gospel quartet with four cellmates, including Johnny Terry. Brown met singer Bobby Byrd when the two played against each other in a baseball game outside the detention center. Byrd discovered that Brown could sing after hearing of "a guy called Music Box", which
1298-507: A duet with singer Annie Lennox on the song "Vengeance" for her new album Venus , which was released in 2007. Macon, Georgia Macon ( / ˈ m eɪ k ən / MAY -kən ), officially Macon–Bibb County , is a consolidated city-county in Georgia , United States. Situated near the fall line of the Ocmulgee River , it is 85 miles (137 km) southeast of Atlanta and near
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#17328699712701416-518: A focal point for many performances. Other members of Brown's band included stalwart Famous Flames singer and sideman Bobby Byrd, trombonist Fred Wesley , drummers John "Jabo" Starks , Clyde Stubblefield and Melvin Parker , saxophonist St. Clair Pinckney , guitarist Alphonso "Country" Kellum and bassist Bernard Odum . In addition to a torrent of singles and studio albums, Brown's output during this period included two more successful live albums, Live at
1534-618: A grueling schedule throughout the remainder of his life, living up to his previous nickname, "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business", in spite of his advanced age. In 2003, Brown participated in the PBS American Masters television documentary James Brown: Soul Survivor , which was directed by Jeremy Marre . Brown performed in the Super Bowl XXXI halftime show in 1997. Brown celebrated his status as an icon by appearing in
1652-666: A higher concern in the city. In 2022, Macon set a homicide record with 70 homicides. In 2023, Macon had the highest crime rate in Georgia. Macon had a crime rate of 52.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. Gang activity is a major reason for the crime problem in Macon. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation expanded its Gang Task Force Office to Macon in 2023. As of 2024, crime has reduced in Macon compared to 2022 and 2023. The aerospace, advanced manufacturing, food processing, healthcare, professional services, and warehouse and distribution industries drive
1770-449: A hit with their cover of the instrumental " Night Train ", becoming a top five R&B single. That same year, the ballads " Lost Someone " and " Baby You're Right ", the latter a Joe Tex composition, added to his repertoire and increased his reputation with R&B audiences. On October 24, 1962, Brown financed a live recording of a performance at the Apollo and convinced Syd Nathan to release
1888-695: A large fee. However, the great success of these shows marked a turning point for Brown's career, and soon he was back on top in Hollywood. Movies followed, including appearances in Doctor Detroit (1983) and Rocky IV (1985). He guest-starred in the Miami Vice episode "Missing Hours" (1987). Previously, Brown appeared alongside a litany of other Black musical luminaries in The Blues Brothers (1980). In 1984, he teamed with rap musician Afrika Bambaataa on
2006-468: A new James Brown Arena to be constructed on the current site before plans were revealed in early 2021 for a new arena. The new arena plans call for a 10,000 seat capacity featuring meeting rooms, twelve suites, and a new connector between the Bell Auditorium and the James Brown Arena all with an estimated cost of $ 228 million for construction. The new James Brown Arena was on the November 2021 ballot for
2124-570: A nine-member county commission elected by districts and (ii) a portion of Macon extending into nearby Jones County was disincorporated. Robert Reichert was elected the first mayor of Macon-Bibb in the September 2013 election, which required a runoff with C. Jack Ellis in October. The Ocmulgee River is a major river that runs through the city. Macon is one of Georgia's three major Fall Line Cities , along with Augusta and Columbus . The Fall Line
2242-505: A re-recorded version of "Please, Please, Please" in March 1956. The song became the group's first R&B hit, selling over a million copies. None of their follow-ups gained similar success. In 1957, Brown replaced Clint Brantley as manager and hired Ben Bart, chief of Universal Attractions Agency . In 1957 the original Flames broke up, after Bart changed the name of the group to "James Brown and His Famous Flames". In October 1958, Brown released
2360-665: A record crowd of 80,000 people. He played a full concert as part of the BBC's Electric Proms on October 27, 2006, at The Roundhouse, supported by the Zutons, with special appearances from Max Beasley and the Sugababes. Brown's last televised appearance was at his induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame in November 2006, before his death in December. Before his death, Brown had been scheduled to perform
2478-475: A referendum to merge the governments of the city of Macon and most of unincorporated Bibb County. The vote came after the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1171, authorizing the referendum earlier in the year; Four previous consolidation attempts (in 1933, 1960, 1972, and 1976) failed. As a result of the referendum, (i) the Macon and Bibb County governments were replaced with a mayor and
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#17328699712702596-598: A result, Brown's record sales and concerts in the United States were in a lull in 1973, as he failed to land a number-one R&B single that year. In 1973 he also faced problems with the IRS for failure to pay back taxes , charging he hadn't paid upwards of $ 4.5 million; five years earlier, the IRS had claimed he owed nearly $ 2 million. In 1973, Brown provided the score for the blaxploitation film Black Caesar . In 1974 he returned to
2714-570: A separate entity from the Flames, sometimes named the James Brown Orchestra or the James Brown Band. In 1960, the band released the top ten R&B hit " (Do the) Mashed Potatoes " on Dade Records, owned by Henry Stone , billed under the pseudonym "Nat Kendrick & the Swans" due to label issues. As a result of its success, King president Syd Nathan shifted Brown's contract from Federal to
2832-716: A show at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre , that was well received. On June 10, 1991, James Brown and a star-filled line up performed before a crowd at the Wiltern Theatre for a live pay-per-view at-home audience. James Brown: Living in America – Live! was the brainchild of Indiana producer Danny Hubbard. It featured M.C. Hammer as well as Bell Biv Devoe , Heavy D & the Boys, En Vogue , C+C Music Factory , Quincy Jones , Sherman Hemsley and Keenen Ivory Wayans . Ice-T , Tone Loc and Kool Moe Dee performed paying homage to Brown. This
2950-497: A single. Again, it failed to chart. Brown's final studio albums, I'm Back and The Next Step , were released in 1998 and 2002 respectively. I'm Back featured the song " Funk on Ah Roll ", which peaked at No. 40 in the UK but did not chart in his native US. The Next Step included Brown's final single, " Killing Is Out, School Is In ". Both albums were produced by Derrick Monk. Brown's concert success remained unabated and he kept up with
3068-759: A state transportation hub. In 1895, the New York Times dubbed Macon "The Central City" because of is emergence as a railroad transportation and textile factory hub. Terminal Station was built in 1916. In the twentieth century, Macon grew into a prospering town in Middle Georgia. Macon has been impacted by natural catastrophes. In 1994 Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in Florida and flooded several Georgia cities. Macon, which received 24 inches (61 cm) of rain, suffered major flooding. On May 11, 2008 , an EF2 tornado hit Macon. Touching down in nearby Lizella,
3186-407: A top-ranking performer, especially with R&B audiences from that point on. By 1967, Brown's emerging sound began to be defined as funk music. That year he released what some critics cited as the first true funk song, " Cold Sweat ", which hit number-one on the R&B chart (Top 10 Pop) and became one of his first recordings to contain a drum break and also the first that featured a harmony that
3304-673: A variety of entertainment and sports events, including an appearance on the WCW pay-per-view event, SuperBrawl X , where he danced alongside wrestler Ernest "the Cat" Miller , who based his character on Brown, during his in-ring skit with the Maestro . Brown appeared in Tony Scott 's short film Beat the Devil in 2001. He was featured alongside Clive Owen , Gary Oldman , Danny Trejo and Marilyn Manson . Brown made
3422-489: A white Cincinnati band, including the hit " I Can't Stand Myself ". He also released three albums of Christmas music with his own band. In March 1970, most of Brown's mid-to-late 1960s road band walked out on him due to financial disputes, a development augured by the prior disbandment of the Famous Flames singing group for the same reason in 1968. Brown and erstwhile Famous Flames singer Bobby Byrd, who chose to remain in
3540-428: A women's school, has basketball, soccer , cross country , tennis, softball , and volleyball teams. The city maintains several parks and community centers. U.S. Senator Augustus Bacon , of Georgia, in his 1911 will, devised land in Macon in trust, to be used as a public park for the exclusive benefit of white people. The park, known as Baconsfield, was operated in that manner for many years. In Evans v. Newton ,
3658-523: Is 10 miles south of Macon on Highway 247, just east of Warner Robins . Macon has been home for numerous musicians and composers, including Emmett Miller , The Allman Brothers Band , Randy Crawford , Mark Heard , Lucille Hegamin , Ben Johnston , Otis Redding , Little Richard , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry of R.E.M. , as well as more recent artists like violinist Robert McDuffie and country artist Jason Aldean . Capricorn Records , run by Macon natives Phil Walden and briefly Alan Walden, made
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3776-473: Is approximately 330 feet (100 m) above sea level. Macon has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 46.3 °F (7.9 °C) in January to 81.8 °F (27.7 °C) in July. On average, there are 4.8 days with 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 83 days with 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, and 43 days with a low at or below freezing;
3894-601: Is the largest principal city in the Macon-Warner Robins-Fort Valley CSA , a combined statistical area that includes the Macon metropolitan area (Bibb, Crawford , Jones, Monroe , and Twiggs counties) and the Warner Robins metropolitan area ( Houston , Peach , and Pulaski counties) with a combined population of 411,898 in the 2010 census . As of the official 2010 U.S. census , the population of Macon
4012-565: Is very important to mention "I've Got Money" which features the first 'rhythmic' shift as one of the foundations of the Funk, played by Clayton Fillyau in recorded in 1961, released in 1962!) Changes in Brown's style that started with "Cold Sweat" established the musical foundation for Brown's later hits, such as " I Got the Feelin' " (1968) and " Mother Popcorn " (1969). By this time Brown's vocals frequently took
4130-459: Is where the hilly lands of the Piedmont plateau meet the flat terrain of the coastal plain . As such, Macon has a varied landscape of rolling hills on the north side and flat plains on the south. The fall line , where the altitude drops noticeably, causes rivers and creeks in the area to flow rapidly toward the ocean. In the past, Macon and other Fall Line cities had many textile mills powered by
4248-835: The AF2 's Augusta Stallions from 2000 to 2002, Augusta Spartans from 2006 to 2007, and the Southern Professional Hockey League 's Augusta RiverHawks from 2010 to 2013. The Arena hosted UFC 11 . The arena has also hosted many concerts and pro wrestling events, including ECW's December to Dismember in 2006. Many acts have played the arena including Elton John, Van Halen , Rush , Heart , Bob Seger , REO Speedwagon , KISS , Bon Jovi , Molly Hatchet , John Cougar , Kansas , Charlie Daniels Band , Alabama , Blackfoot , Mother's Finest , Ratt , Mötley Crüe , Def Leppard , Cheap Trick , Marshall Tucker Band , and Loverboy . The center-hung Fair Play scoreboard dates to
4366-567: The Atrium Health Navicent and Piedmont Healthcare Macon hospital systems, two of the city's largest employers, making Macon the healthcare hub for the Middle and South Georgia regions. The 2010 Census listed Macon's median household income as $ 28,366, below the state average of $ 49,347. The median family income was $ 37,268. Full-time working males had a median income of $ 34,163, higher than the $ 28,082 for females. The city's per capita income
4484-617: The Federal Road , linking Washington, D.C., to the ports of Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana . Used for trading with the Creek, the fort also was used by state militia and federal troops. It was a major military distribution point during the War of 1812 and the Creek War of 1813. After the wars, it was a trading post and garrisoned troops until 1821. Decommissioned around 1828, it later burned to
4602-715: The Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame . In Joel Whitburn 's analysis of the Billboard R&;B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in the Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone 's list of
4720-460: The Supreme Court of the United States held that the park could not continue to be operated on a racially discriminatory basis. The Supreme Court of Georgia thereupon declared "that the sole purpose for which the trust was created has become impossible of accomplishment" and remanded the case to the trial court, which held cy-près doctrine to be inapplicable, since the park's segregated character
4838-658: The standard " Prisoner of Love ". He launched his first label, Try Me Records , which included recordings by Tammy Montgomery, later to be famous as Tammi Terrell , Johnny & Bill (Famous Flames associates Johnny Terry and Bill Hollings) and the Poets, which was another name used for Brown's backing band. During this time, Brown began an ill-fated two-year relationship with 17-year-old Tammi Terrell when she sang in his revue. Terrell ended their personal and professional relationship because of Brown's abusive behavior. In 1964, seeking bigger commercial success, Brown and Bobby Byrd formed
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4956-684: The "Save The J" campaign which advocated for keeping the James Brown Arena at its current location in Downtown Augusta. Augusta commissioners voted down the proposed site in a December 2017 before ultimately deciding to put the question of the new JBA location on the Republican and Democratic primary ballots as a non-binding referendum in May 2018. Augustans voted 57% to 43% to keep the JBA at its current location in Downtown Augusta. Plans soon began to be developed for
5074-466: The "fifth Flame". Brown, the Flames, and his entire band debuted at the Apollo Theater on April 24, 1959, opening for Brown's idol, Little Willie John . Federal Records issued two albums credited to Brown and the Famous Flames. Both contained previously released singles. In 1960, Brown began multi-tasking in the recording studio involving himself, his singing group, the Famous Flames, and his band,
5192-617: The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and at No. 44 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. James Joseph Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina , to 16-year-old Susie ( née Behling; 1917–2004) and 21-year-old Joseph Gardner Brown (1912–1993) in a small wooden shack. Brown's name was supposed to have been Joseph James Brown, but his first and middle names were mistakenly reversed on his birth certificate. The Brown family lived in poverty in Elko, South Carolina , which
5310-516: The 1968 hit " Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud ". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006. Brown recorded and released 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&;B charts . He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of
5428-456: The Garden (1967) and Live at the Apollo, Volume II (1968), and a 1968 television special, James Brown: Man to Man . His music empire expanded along with his influence on the music scene. As Brown's music empire grew, his desire for financial and artistic independence grew as well. Brown bought radio stations during the late 1960s, including WRDW in his native Augusta, where he shined shoes as
5546-706: The Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church chose Macon as the location for Wesleyan College , the first U.S. college to grant women college degrees. Nonetheless, Macon came in last in the 1855 referendum voting to be Georgia's capital city with 3,802 votes. During the American Civil War , Macon served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy manufacturing percussion caps , friction primers , and pressed bullets . Camp Oglethorpe
5664-408: The J.B.'s dissolved after a March 1971 European tour (documented on the 1991 archival release Love Power Peace ) due to additional money disputes and Bootsy Collins's use of LSD ; a new lineup of the J.B.'s coalesced around Wesley, St. Clair Pinckney and drummer John Starks. In 1971, Brown began recording for Polydor Records . Many of his sidemen and supporting players, including Fred Wesley &
5782-484: The J.B.'s, Bobby Byrd, Lyn Collins , Vicki Anderson and former rival Hank Ballard , released records on the People label. During the 1972 presidential election , James Brown openly proclaimed his support of Richard Nixon for reelection to the presidency over Democratic candidate George McGovern . The decision led to a boycott of his performances and, according to Brown, cost him a big portion of his black audience. As
5900-551: The No. 1 spot on the R&B charts with " The Payback ", with the parent album reaching the same spot on the album charts. He reached No. 1 two more times in 1974, with " My Thang " and " Papa Don't Take No Mess ". "Papa Don't Take No Mess" was his final single to reach the No. 1 spot on the R&B charts. His other Top Ten R&B hits during this latter period included " Funky President " (R&B No. 4) and " Get Up Offa That Thing " (R&B No. 4). Although his records were mainstays of
6018-639: The Ohio River for more than 20 years, had lived among the Creek , and was married to a Creek woman. Located at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River , the fort established a trading post with Native peoples at the river's most inland point navigable from the Low Country . Fort Hawkins guarded the Lower Creek Pathway, an extensive and well-traveled American Indian network that the U.S. government later improved as
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#17328699712706136-510: The R&B chart. His former record label Polydor released the four-CD box set Star Time , spanning Brown's career to date. Brown's release from prison prompted his former record labels to reissue his albums on CD, featuring additional tracks and commentary by music critics and historians. In 1991, Brown appeared on rapper MC Hammer 's video for " Too Legit to Quit ". Hammer had been noted, alongside Big Daddy Kane , for bringing Brown's unique stage shows and their own energetic dance moves to
6254-433: The Regency Mall site called Regency Town Center & Park. The development would feature a new James Brown Arena, new retail shops and restaurants, and new apartments as well. Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis was a key proponent of the move as he pushed for more redevelopment efforts in the Gordon Highway area in an area he called SOGO (South of Gordon Highway). Soon following the Coliseum Authority's vote, local residents launched
6372-425: The Richmond County Coroner confirmed that the arena employee had died of asphyxiation from leaked refrigerant; the Coroner also noted that the decedent had a pre-existing health condition which also contributed to their death. 33°28′12″N 81°57′59″W / 33.47000°N 81.96639°W / 33.47000; -81.96639 James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006)
6490-409: The US R&B chart and reached No. 59 on the UK chart. Its brief charting in the UK was probably due to the success of a remixed version of "I Feel Good" featuring Dakeyne . Brown released the singles "How Long" and "Georgia-Lina", which failed to chart. In 1995, Brown returned to the Apollo and recorded Live at the Apollo 1995 . It included a studio track titled "Respect Me", which was released as
6608-453: The album, despite Nathan's belief that no one would buy a live album due to the fact that Brown's singles had already been bought and that live albums were usually bad sellers. Live at the Apollo was released in June 1963 and became an immediate hit, eventually reaching number two on the Top LPs chart and selling over a million copies, staying on the charts for 14 months. In 1963, Brown scored his first top 20 pop hit with his rendition of
6726-422: The arena's ice to melt. As a result, following the playing of the remaining 2012-13 regular season home games at the RiverHawks practice facility, the Augusta RiverHawks suspended operations for the 2013–14 season. After team owner Bob Kerzner, the city of Augusta, and Global Spectrum failed to reach an agreement on how to replace the $ 1.2 million ice system as well as compensation for the remaining home games lost to
6844-410: The arena's opening in 1980, and in recent years has been joined by additional scoreboards and a Trans-Lux LED video display which can be found at each end of the arena. In August 2017, the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted 4–2 to relocate the James Brown Arena to the former Regency Mall location off on Gordon Highway in South Augusta. The proposed site called for a new development at
6962-426: The average window for freezing temperatures is November 7 thru March 22, allowing a growing season of 228 days. The city has an average annual precipitation of 45.7 inches (1,160 mm). The wettest day on record was July 5, 1994, with 10.25 inches (260 mm) of rain, and the wettest month on record was July 1994, with 18.16 inches (461 mm) of rain. On the other hand, since 1892, when precipitation records for
7080-400: The ballad " Try Me ", which hit number one on the R&B chart in the beginning of 1959, becoming the first of seventeen chart-topping R&B hits. Shortly afterwards, he recruited his first band, led by J. C. Davis, and reunited with Bobby Byrd who joined a revived Famous Flames lineup that included Eugene "Baby" Lloyd Stallworth and Bobby Bennett , with Johnny Terry sometimes coming in as
7198-454: The band during this tumultuous period as co-frontman, effectively serving as a proto- hype man in live performances, recruited several members of the Pacemakers , a Cincinnati-based ensemble that included bassist Bootsy Collins and his brother, guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins ; augmented by the remaining members of the 1960s road band, including Fred Wesley, who rejoined Brown's outfit in December 1970, and other newer musicians, they formed
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#17328699712707316-455: The beneficial local Black Belt geology and the availability of slave labor , cotton became the mainstay of Macon's early economy. The city's location on the Ocmulgee River aided initial economic expansion, providing shipping access to new markets. Cotton steamboats , stagecoaches, and the 1843 arrival of the railroad increased marketing opportunities and contributed to Macon's economic prosperity. Macon's growth had other benefits. In 1836,
7434-420: The campus's trees were snapped or uprooted and several buildings were damaged, with the gymnasium suffering the worst. The tornado's intensity varied from EF0 to EF2, with the EF2 damage and winds up to 130 miles per hour (210 km/h) occurring near the intersection of Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue. On July 31, 2012, voters in Macon (57.8 percent approval) and Bibb County (56.7 percent approval) passed
7552-581: The city a Southern rock music production center in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Macon Symphony Orchestra, a youth symphony, and the Middle Georgia Concert Band perform at the Grand Opera House in downtown Macon . The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was located in Macon from 1996 to 2011. Macon is home to the Mercer Bears , with NCAA Division I teams in soccer (men's and women's), football , baseball , basketball (men's and women's), tennis , and lacrosse . Central Georgia Technical College competes in men's and women's basketball. Wesleyan College,
7670-419: The city began, there have been two months, October 1961 and October 1963, which did not even record a trace of precipitation in the city, and two other months, October 1939 and May 2007, which only recorded a trace. Snow is occasional, with about half of the winters receiving trace amounts or no snowfall, averaging 0.7 inches (1.8 cm); the snowiest winter was 1972−73 with 16.5 in (42 cm). Macon
7788-448: The city's economy in the 2000s. In recent years, the city has successfully landed numerous new employers to diversify the economy, such as Irving Consumer Products and Kuhmo Tire manufacturing plants, as well as multiple aerospace employers at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport , including an Embraer aircraft maintenance facility. The health care and social assistance sector is the largest industry in Macon by number of employees, with
7906-413: The consolidated Macon-Bibb County in October 2013. There are also 9 County Commissioners elected from districts within the county. On March 15, 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the former County Manager, Dale M. Walker, with fraud. Bibb County Public School District operates district public schools. Public high schools include: Georgia Academy for the Blind , operated by
8024-435: The development of several music genres. Brown was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 23, 1986. His music has been heavily sampled by hip-hop musicians and other artists. Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia . He rose to prominence in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames , a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd . With
8142-517: The disco-oriented " It's Too Funky in Here " in 1979 reaching the R&B Top 15 and the ballad " Kiss in '77 " reaching the Top 20. After 1976's "Bodyheat", he failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. As a result, Brown's concert attendance began dropping and his reported disputes with the IRS caused his business empire to collapse. In addition, several longtime bandmates, including Wesley and Maceo Parker, had gradually pivoted to Parliament-Funkadelic, which reached its critical and commercial apogee in
8260-473: The early 1980s that hip hop pioneer Kurtis Blow called the song "the national anthem of hip hop". After his stint in prison during the late 1980s, Brown met Larry Fridie and Thomas Hart who produced the first James Brown biopic, entitled James Brown: The Man, the Message, the Music , released in 1992. He returned to music with the album Love Over-Due in 1991. It included the single " (So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On ", which peaked at No. 48 on
8378-406: The economy in Macon-Bibb County. Long-standing large private employers include Mercer University , GEICO 's Southeast Corporate Headquarters, YKK USA, and Norfolk Southern Railway 's Brosnan Yard. The decline of the textile industry in the South, along with the shuttering of other large manufacturing operations, such as the closing of the Brown and Williamson plant in 2006, caused a decline in
8496-596: The family from time to time throughout his career. Shortly after being paroled he joined the gospel group the Ever-Ready Gospel Singers, featuring Byrd's sister Sarah. Brown joined Bobby Byrd's group in 1954. The group had evolved from the Gospel Starlighters, an a cappella gospel group, to an R&B group with the name the Avons. He reputedly joined the band after one of its members, Troy Collins, died in
8614-617: The final Live 8 concert on July 6, 2005, where he performed a duet with British pop star Will Young on "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". In the Black Eyed Peas album "Monkey Business", Brown was featured on a track called "They Don't Want Music". The previous week he had performed a duet with another British pop star, Joss Stone , on the United Kingdom chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross . In 2006, Brown continued his Seven Decades of Funk World Tour. His final major U.S. performance
8732-541: The form of a kind of rhythmic declamation, not quite sung but not quite spoken, that only intermittently featured traces of pitch or melody . This became a major influence on the techniques of rapping , which would come to maturity along with hip hop music in the coming decades. Brown's style of funk in the late 1960s was based on interlocking syncopated parts: strutting bass lines, syncopated drum patterns, and iconic percussive guitar riffs. The main guitar ostinatos for 1969's " Ain't It Funky " and " Give It Up or Turnit
8850-403: The ground. A replica of the southeast blockhouse was built in 1938 and stands on an east Macon hill. Fort Hawkins Grammar School occupied part of the site. In the 21st century, archeological excavations have revealed more of the fort, increasing its historical significance, and led to further reconstruction planning for this major historical site. With the arrival of more settlers, Fort Hawkins
8968-460: The group audition. He then sent them to a local radio station to record a demo session, where they performed their own composition " Please, Please, Please ", which was inspired when Little Richard wrote the words of the title on a napkin and Brown was determined to make a song out of it. The Famous Flames eventually signed with King Records ' Federal subsidiary in Cincinnati, Ohio, and issued
9086-445: The group's first manager, booking them at parties near college campuses in Georgia and South Carolina. The group had already gained a reputation as a good live act when they renamed themselves the Famous Flames. In 1955, the group contacted Little Richard while performing in Macon . Richard convinced the group to get in contact with his manager at the time, Clint Brantley, at his nightclub. Brantley agreed to manage them after seeing
9204-480: The hip-hop generation. Both listed Brown as their idol. Both musicians sampled his work, with Hammer having sampled the rhythms from " Super Bad " for his song "Here Comes the Hammer", from his best-selling album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em . Big Daddy Kane sampled many times. Before the year was over, Brown–who had immediately returned to work with his band following his release–organized a pay-per-view concert following
9322-434: The hit ballads " Please, Please, Please " and " Try Me ", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as " Papa's Got a Brand New Bag ", " I Got You (I Feel Good) " and " It's a Man's Man's Man's World ". During
9440-656: The industry, most notably groups such as Sly and the Family Stone , Funkadelic , Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band , Booker T. & the M.G.s as well as vocalists such as Edwin Starr , David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards from the Temptations , and Michael Jackson , who, throughout his career, cited Brown as his ultimate idol. Brown's band during this period employed musicians and arrangers who had come up through
9558-460: The jazz tradition. He was noted for his ability as a bandleader and songwriter to blend the simplicity and drive of R&B with the rhythmic complexity and precision of jazz . Trumpeter Lewis Hamlin and saxophonist/keyboardist Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis , the successor to previous bandleader Nat Jones, led the band. Guitarist Jimmy Nolen provided percussive, deceptively simple riffs for each song, and Maceo Parker 's prominent saxophone solos provided
9676-469: The late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel -based forms and styles to a new approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as " Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine " and " The Payback ". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including
9794-587: The mid-to-late 1970s. The emergence of disco forestalled Brown's success on the R&B charts, because its slicker, more commercial style had superseded his rawer, one-chord funk productions. By the release of 1979's The Original Disco Man , Brown seldom contributed to the songwriting and production processes, leaving most of it to producer Brad Shapiro . This resulted in the song "It's Too Funky in Here" becoming Brown's most successful single in this period. After two more albums failed to chart, Brown left Polydor in 1981. It
9912-470: The nearby state capital of Milledgeville , and Maconites prepared for an attack. Sherman, however, passed by without entering Macon. The Macon Telegraph reported the city had furnished 23 companies of men for the Confederacy, but casualties were high. By war end, Maconite survivors fit for duty could fill only five companies. The city was taken by Union forces during Wilson's Raid on April 20, 1865. Because of its central location, Macon developed as
10030-440: The new arena. The arena's final public event was the 2024 commencement ceremony for Augusta Technical College , held on May 31, 2024. The reopening of the Bell Auditorium following a $ 20 million renovation coincided with the arena's closure; construction of the new arena is scheduled to start in July 2024, starting with the demolition of the existing arena. In late February 2013, the arena's ice system malfunctioned, causing all of
10148-450: The northwest. Voters approved the consolidation of the City of Macon and Bibb County governments in a 2012 referendum. Macon became the state's fourth-largest city (after Augusta ) when the merger became official on January 1, 2014. Macon is served by three interstate highways : I-16 (connecting to Savannah and coastal Georgia), I-75 (connecting to Atlanta to the north and Valdosta to
10266-463: The nucleus of the J.B.'s , Brown's new backing ensemble. Shortly following their first performance together, the band entered the studio to record the Brown-Byrd composition, " Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine ". The song —with its off the beat play Brown called "The One"— and other contemporaneous singles further cemented Brown's influence in the nascent genre of funk music. This iteration of
10384-572: The older, more affluent, and predominantly white adult contemporary audience, Brown recorded Gettin' Down To It (1969) and Soul on Top (1970)—two albums consisting mostly of romantic ballads, jazz standards, and homologous reinterpretations of his earlier hits—with the Dee Felice Trio and the Louie Bellson Orchestra. In 1968, he recorded a number of funk-oriented tracks with the Dapps ,
10502-496: The parent label, King, which according to Brown in his autobiography meant "you got more support from the company". While with King, Brown, under the Famous Flames lineup, released the hit-filled album Think! and in 1961 released two albums with the James Brown Band earning second billing. With the Famous Flames, Brown sang lead on several more hits, including " Bewildered ", " I'll Go Crazy " and " Think ", songs that hinted at his emerging style. In 1962, Brown and his band scored
10620-585: The popular music of the 1970s". Those same tracks were later resurrected by countless hip-hop musicians from the 1970s onward. As a result, James Brown remains to this day the world's most sampled recording artist. Two tracks that he wrote, are synonymous with modern dance, especially with house music , jungle music , and drum and bass music , which were sped up exponentially, in the latter two genres. "Bring it Up" has an Afro-Cuban guajeo -like structure. All three of these guitar riffs are based on an onbeat/offbeat structure. Stewart says that it "is different from
10738-455: The population. By the 2020 census, its population increased to 157,346. There were 38,444 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.0% were married couples living together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
10856-480: The production company, Fair Deal, linking the operation to the Mercury imprint, Smash Records . King Records fought against this and was granted an injunction preventing Brown from releasing any recordings for the label. Prior to the injunction, Brown had released three vocal singles, including the blues-oriented hit " Out of Sight ", which further indicated the direction his music was going to take. Touring throughout
10974-522: The production team Full Force on the new jack swing -influenced I'm Real . It spawned his final two Top 10 R&B hits, " I'm Real " and " Static ", which peaked at No. 2 and No. 5, respectively. Meanwhile, the drum break from the second version of the original 1969 hit "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", the recording included on the compilation album In the Jungle Groove , became so popular at hip hop dance parties, especially for breakdance , during
11092-471: The rivers. Macon is located at 32°50′05″N 83°39′06″W / 32.834839°N 83.651672°W / 32.834839; -83.651672 (32.834839, −83.651672). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 56.3 square miles (146 km ), of which 55.8 square miles (145 km ) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km ) (0.82%) is water. Macon
11210-601: The show after singing the ballad "So Long". While in Augusta, Brown performed buck dances for change to entertain troops from Camp Gordon at the start of World War II as their convoys traveled over a canal bridge near his aunt's home. This is where he first heard the legendary blues musician Howlin' Wolf play guitar. He learned to play the piano, guitar, and harmonica during this period. He became inspired to become an entertainer after hearing " Caldonia " by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five . In his teen years, Brown briefly had
11328-497: The song " Unity ". A year later he signed with Scotti Brothers Records and issued the moderately successful album Gravity in 1986 with a popular song " How Do You Stop ". It included Brown's final Top Ten pop hit, " Living in America ", marking his first Top 40 entry since 1974 and his first Top Ten pop entry since 1968. Produced and written by Dan Hartman , it featured prominently on the Rocky IV film and soundtrack. Brown performed
11446-670: The song in the film at Apollo Creed's final fight, shot in the Ziegfeld Room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas , and was credited in the film as the Godfather of Soul. 1986 also saw the publication of his autobiography, James Brown: The Godfather of Soul , co-written with Bruce Tucker. In 1987, Brown won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Living in America". In 1988, Brown worked with
11564-459: The south), and I-475 (a city bypass highway). The area has two small general aviation airports, Middle Georgia Regional Airport and Herbert Smart Downtown Airport . Residents traveling to and from the area mainly use the large commercial airport in Atlanta , approximately 80 miles to the northwest. The city has several institutions of higher education and numerous museums and tourism sites. Macon
11682-509: The state's geographic center—hence its nickname " The Heart of Georgia ". Macon's population was 157,346 in the 2020 census . It is the principal city of the Macon metropolitan statistical area , which had 234,802 people in 2020. It also is the largest city in the Macon–Warner Robins Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which had approximately 420,693 residents in 2017 and abuts the Atlanta metropolitan area to
11800-567: The system's failure, Kerzner and the SPHL announced that the RiverHawks would move to Macon and resume play as the Macon Mayhem for the 2015-16 SPHL season. On November 18, 2022, the arena was evacuated before a concert was scheduled to begin after a gas leak was discovered, which resulted in the death of a maintenance worker who was servicing the arena's HVAC system. In April 2023, an autopsy report by
11918-660: The tornado moved northeast to the southern shore of Lake Tobesofkee , continued into Macon, and lifted near Dry Branch in Twiggs County. The storm's total path length was 18 miles (29 km), and its path width was 100 yards (91 m). The tornado produced sporadic areas of major damage, with widespread straight-line wind damage along its southern track. The most significant damage was along Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue in Macon, where two businesses were destroyed and several others were heavily damaged. The tornado also impacted Middle Georgia State College, where almost half of
12036-438: The vanguard New York underground disco scene, exemplified by DJs such as David Mancuso and Francis Grasso , from 1969 onwards, Brown did not consciously yield to the trend until 1975's Sex Machine Today . By 1977, he was no longer a dominant force in R&B. After "Get Up Offa That Thing", thirteen of Brown's late 1970s recordings for Polydor failed to reach the Top 10 of the R&B chart, with only " Bodyheat " in 1976 and
12154-502: The year, Brown and the Famous Flames grabbed more national attention after delivering an explosive show-stopping performance on the live concert film The T.A.M.I. Show . The Flames' dynamic gospel-tinged vocals, polished choreography and timing as well as Brown's energetic dance moves and high-octane singing upstaged the proposed closing act, the Rolling Stones . Having signed a new deal with King, Brown released his song " Papa's Got
12272-516: Was $ 17,010. About 24.1% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 43.6% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those over 65. Malls include The Shoppes at River Crossing , Macon Mall , and Eisenhower Crossing. Traditional shopping centers are in the downtown area and Ingleside Village. Macon is the headquarters of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team , Georgia Army National Guard . The largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base ,
12390-403: Was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 72.8 males. Since 2020, crime has become
12508-565: Was 91,351. In the last official census, in 2000, there were 97,255 people, 38,444 households, and 24,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,742.8 inhabitants per square mile (672.9/km ). There were 44,341 housing units at an average density of 794.6 per square mile (306.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 67.94% African American , 28.56% White , 0.02% Native American , 0.65% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.46% from other races , and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.48% of
12626-517: Was Brown's first public performance since his parole from the South Carolina prison system in February. He had served two-and-a-half years of two concurrent six-year sentences for aggravated assault and other felonies. Brown continued making recordings. In 1993 his album Universal James was released. It included his final Billboard charting single, " Can't Get Any Harder ", which peaked at No. 76 on
12744-539: Was Brown's nickname at the prison. Byrd has since said he and his family helped to secure an early release, which led to Brown promising the court he would "sing for the Lord". Brown was released on a work sponsorship with Toccoa business owner S. C. Lawson. Lawson was impressed with Brown's work ethic and secured his release with a promise to keep him employed for two years. Brown was paroled on June 14, 1952. Brown went on to work with both of Lawson's sons, and came back to visit
12862-463: Was an American singer, dancer, and musician. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music , he is referred to by various nicknames , among them "Mr. Dynamite", "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business", "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk", "Godfather of Soul", "King of Soul", and "Soul Brother No. 1". In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he influenced
12980-403: Was an essential and inseparable part of Bacon's plan. The trial court ruled that the trust failed and that the property reverted to Bacon's heirs. The Supreme Court of Georgia and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed. The 50-acre (20 ha) park was lost and commercially developed. Prior to 2013, the city government consisted of a mayor and city council. Robert Reichert was elected the first mayor of
13098-433: Was an impoverished town in 1933. They moved to Augusta, Georgia , when James was four or five. His family first settled at one of his aunts' brothels. They later moved into a house shared with another aunt. Brown's mother eventually left the family after a contentious and abusive marriage and moved to New York. He began singing in talent shows as a young child, first appearing at Augusta's Lenox Theater in 1944, winning
13216-588: Was around this time that Brown changed the name of his band from the J.B.'s to the Soul Generals, or Soul G's. The band retained that name until his death. Despite Brown's declining record sales, promoters Gary LoConti and Jim Rissmiller helped Brown sell out a string of residency shows at the Reseda Country Club in Los Angeles in early 1982. Brown's compromised commercial standing prevented him from charging
13334-512: Was developed at the site of Fort Benjamin Hawkins , built in 1809 at President Thomas Jefferson's direction after he forced the Creek to cede their lands east of the Ocmulgee River . (Archeological excavations in the 21st century found evidence of two separate fortifications.) The fort was named for Benjamin Hawkins , who served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southeast territory south of
13452-399: Was established as a prison for captured Union officers and enlisted men. Later, it held only officers, at one time numbering 2,300. The camp was evacuated in 1864. Macon City Hall served as the temporary state capitol in 1864 and was converted to a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers. The Union General William Tecumseh Sherman spared Macon on his march to the sea . His troops sacked
13570-615: Was founded on the site of the Ocmulgee Old Fields, where the Creek Indians lived in the 18th century. Their predecessors, the Mississippian culture , built a powerful agriculture-based chiefdom (950–1100 AD). The Mississippian culture constructed earthwork mounds for ceremonial, religious, and burial purposes. Indigenous peoples inhabited the areas along the Southeast's rivers for 13,000 years before Europeans arrived. Macon
13688-777: Was in San Francisco on August 20, 2006, as headliner at the Festival of the Golden Gate (Foggfest) on the Great Meadow at Fort Mason . The next day, he performed at an 800-seat campus theatre at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California . His last shows were greeted with positive reviews, and one of his final concert appearances at the Irish Oxegen festival in Punchestown in 2006 included
13806-424: Was reduced to a single chord . The instrumental arrangements on tracks such as " Give It Up or Turnit a Loose " and " Licking Stick-Licking Stick ", both recorded in 1968, and " Funky Drummer ", recorded in 1969, featured a more developed version of Brown's mid-1960s style, with the horn section , guitars, bass and drums meshed together in intricate rhythmic patterns based on multiple interlocking riffs . (Note: It
13924-519: Was renamed "Newtown". After Bibb County 's organization in 1822, the city was chartered as the county seat in 1823 and officially named Macon, in honor of Nathaniel Macon , a statesman from North Carolina, from where many early Georgia residents hailed. City planners envisioned "a city within a park" and created a city of spacious streets and landscapes. Over 250 acres (1.0 km ) were dedicated for Central City Park, and ordinances required residents to plant shade trees in their front yards. Because of
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