James Brown Never Another Godfather of S.O.U.L (poem) by Carolyn Baxter poet on AuthorsDen

James Brown Never Another Godfather of S.O.U.L
by Carolyn Baxter poet → (All Poetry by Carolyn Baxter poet)
Rated "G" by the Author.

Save

Follow Share on Facebook

There will never be another James Brown Otis Redding Richard Pryor Ray Charles and so many other Talented Black male artists that we Lost this Year of 2006.They Left a Legacy,of Black Pride and a Culture that was just beginning to have the ugly blanket of Racist Supression Lifted off.I was Honored to have seen them Live many times. Everytime gathering more and more Pride and Respect for them, and myself.I will miss them so Much.They were a Part of my Youth, my Life,my Heratage. Apart of Black Culture Died.As well as one ASS KICKIN PARTY!!I hope I conveyed my point in this Poem.But then again what can anybody say about JAMES BROWN AND THE WORLD FAMOUS APOLLO THEATRE.

Harlem 1966 At the Penny arcade with two best friends ribbons kite tale flyin braids blushin boys with waves the Apollo theatre our chins on the stage. We lived at the Apollo everyday was Saturday the matinee two movies and a Cartoon. pitch black excitement intimate like before you fall asleep into a Good Dream King Curtis and the Kingpins heard warming up backstage, Butts bouncing on seats, pullin at each others arms ready to scream an shout The big Voice about to come out Live from where you could never figure out. We looked up at the Screen where 007 saved the World . He was the only white man in Harlem, along with a few Italians from the ''Spaghetti'' Westerns an Bugs Bunny with his proverbial Question Ehhhhh what�s up Doc? But thas ok. Fantasy eclipsed to History. THIS IS OUR WORLD we allowed them in ''OUR WORLD�� The Black and white clip rode the bold Voice Like a Riff from'' prez'' we stared up mouth open as in Holy Communion Blessed with the sweet taste of Music artistic Infinity On name for name after ''Welcome to the World Famous Apollo Theatre Home of '' Diana Washington Lena Horn Sarah Vaughn Sammy Davis JR. Paul Robeson Redd Foxx The Temptations Smoky Robinson and the Miracles The O"Jay's Pigment Markham Martha Reeves and The Van-Dellas The SU-Preems at 12 years old butterflies of birdsong notes full of excitement started up our arms as the flute trilled. base beat authority timeless steps into the past syncopated girlish anticipation. we went to the our parents generation Brook Benton Ertha Kitt Johnny Mathis Miles Davis Moms Mabley We were trapped in the fifties Ray Charles Ornet Colman The Five Blind Boys Mahailia Jackson. Dexter Gordon. Drum laid Funk that Kicked us back to our time and space Aretha Franklin The Isley Brothers The Five Stair steps The Jackson Five The Four tops. Gladys Knight and the pips Otis Redding Sly and The Family Stone Curtis Mayfield. Freda Payne We knew every name We could skip a Grade or get left back by the time you heard Roberta Flack. As the curtain opened polished chrome colorful candy flavored lights of red, yellow purple green And brass in the silent black waiting... Then There they were all in blue Silk suits with their backs to us The Temptations. They turned with Precision in unison ''I heard it through the Grapevine just about to loose my mind!'' We were hooked handful of mesmerized kids Frozen in the matinee show as Otis and Eddie showed us original talent the tone of my Culture the song of my Heritage. Perfect Performing Royalty as if a Presidential performance last one in History. Performed for ''Royalty'' Was ��us�� little Girls wonder In our Palace Hidden under crime an Master Poverty. After Billy Stewarts singing rap word play ''I lova you soda right now never never gonna let gonna let you go na na naaa'' Smoky Robinson and the Miracles ��Tracks of my tears�� Archie Bell and the Drells and ''Tightened it up''. Moms Mabley making us Laugh she was the Black'' Minnie Pearl'' cept she wore white sneakers and had no teeth. What I�m gonna do with a OLD MAN! 'Don�t want no old man! 'anytime you see me with a ''old man'' he�s a Relative''. The Imperials The Unifics The Dells We felt our selves, our identity Every cell being carved Honed into a Positive self. We�d race home Put the records on with yellow plastic disk so the 45 records wouldn�t flop off the turntable grab the broomstick(our mic) sing every word innocence held our Voices cracking our Giggles laughing with us on the off notes. spiced ham an cheese sandwiches on hero bread(spiced ham is ghetto Ham) big pitcher of ''Flava Flav Kool aid''(that�s Ghetto ''Kool-Aid 3packs for a quarter) fall asleep on the floor talking bout how fine Smokey is, an what they all wore. Harlem then was Pillow Fights the iceman selling ice, Staked near the curb Chockfull o nuts where Brothers spoke words of Revolution Fruit an Vegetable man 125/Lenox ave. had a red black an Green Flag between Water melon and a New Day. Harlem then was The Hotel Teresa before Malcolm got killed before Senator Kennedy�s son O.D ed. Harlem was Gray Tenement Dusk and Apollo dreams in the Sixties, Harlem 1972 Say it Loud I�m Black an I'm Proud! Say it LOUD I�m BLACK an I'm PROUD!! Stand out in a crowd Redbone gansta lean reppin the Red, Black, an Green Got the best Weed, a Lil Acid, Speed.. Aint the Chicago seven and the Panther 5 Freed? ''Whitey'' don�t f*** with me.. Supa-Fly Guy Cadillac ride, on the custom side chinchilla hoes side by side diamonds in ya eyes from that snow you pushin take ya sky high. pimps from the slow track from the taters to the ''Gaters'' money getting no money haters brought bottom hoes to the Big show at the Apollo. Fast track playas from midtown Manhattan white hoes stopping traffic getting dollar looks big drug connection action. Cars double parked rapped around the Block Harlem with James Brown Headlining was the spot. Live Double album '' Sex Machine'' we teens laughed at the Pimps fake esteem. They gave my friends an our suede an leather Afro Attitude a smile or two they knew we was lil renegade Hustlas our style yelled we dressing jus like you. Youngblood�s we got money to We learning from you. 1..2! YEEEEEEEEEEYO! UHHHHHHHH! 5 Beats was Locked in the Groove. Made the sound Boogie down to the Ground Owned the Town James Brown slid,split,twurlled,spun noon chucked the Mic stand with his feet swung the mike cord like a yoyo string rocked the cradle an put the baby to sleep loop de loop swing low round and round split the Ground But Never fell in James Brown owns the Apollo. ''MACIEO''.!.. ''MACIEO!'' Yeah! can I do my thang!.. I said can get up and do MYY THANNNG! movin .. Groovin... LIKE A SEX MACHINE YEAH!... .GET UP...GET ON UP was all I heard the roar like a Thousand People all fell in a huge hole together WHOEOOOOOOOOOOOO to'' FUNKY in Here'' dancing in the Isles 5 hours or more No exits no doors ''Open up the Window MAN!'. To Funky IN Here! Give the Drummer some There�s only one James Brown James Brown Birthed Funk We the crowd his Children breathed FUNK ate Funk smelled Funk danced Funk that night we were Baptized in Funk. There�s more Soul in James Brown Than a Baptist Church Than mamas Collard Greens Smoked Turkey wings and black peas. more Soul than Grandmas Sweet potato Pie Diamonds of sweat from his Brow African Agility on bent knee draped in Kings Robes to entertain. The reflection of Soul The North star of Pride in his eyes so his People would never Lose their way home.

Reviewed by Art Hernandez

Reviewed on December 30, 2006

A great write and tribute to a man that brought forth the generation of so many Soul singers and Artists of the 60's up through the New Millenium...nothing can replace the sounds that are and will be embedded within our minds, hearts and souls. I can recall myself as a Hispanic kid, teenager finding the Saturday night parties and dancing to some of the most invigorating music I had ever heard, even though I knew of black and white, hispanic, mexican discrimination, I really didn't, when it came to listening and dancing, it was ALL about the Singer, and the Music, and the time of the moment... when the Dancing started ...you didn't want it to stop...your tribute is an Honorable piece through poetry in Honor of a ....Man.....a man of ......Soul...

love and peace,

Art Sun...