Curatorial Project: James Brown in Michael Jackson’s Life
1. Topic Question:
Unquestionably one of the most influential musical pioneers of the last half-century, James Brown, often known as “The Godfather of Soul”, laid a musical foundation that many artists were influenced by. Ranging from Mick Jagger to Afrika Bambaataa to Jay Z, Brown’s musical characteristics can be seen in various artists. How did the music of Michael Jackson demonstrate the influence of James Brown?
2. Introduction:
“The Godfather of Soul”, better known as James Brown grew to be one of the most influential artists in Michael Jackson’s life. As a child Michael Jackson was intrigued by Brown’s flamboyant performances on stage and would soon begin to implement them into his own stage acts. By the age of five Michael Jackson was already sealed into a world of show business by his father, Joseph Jackson. Deprived of a childhood at a very young age, Michael and his siblings began a family-musical group called “The Jackson 5.” They began playing the soul hits they listened to on the radio all across the country. The band toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1968, frequently performing at clubs and bars. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of Motown hits and a cover of “I Feel Good (I Got You)” by James Brown. It wasn’t until July 23, 1968 where they received major recognition by Motown owner, Berry Gordy. Gordy was reluctant to sign the “Jackson 5” but after their audition performance of the song “I Got the Feelin”, by James Brown, he changed his mind. In March 1969, “The Jackson 5”, were officially signed into Motown records. This marked a historical point in Michael Jackson’s life where his musical influences from James Brown...
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Michael Jackson is one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all time; he leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture. Commonly referred to as the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson continues to earn millions of dollars beyond the grave- earning over $700 million in the years since he passed away in 2009. As the pop genre derives from an abbreviation of “popular”, the King of Pop maintained record breaking popularity for extended periods of time. Pop music, is typically short and simple commercially recorded songs oriented towards a youth market; the King of Pop challenged stereotypes and the viewpoints of his audience with songs like “We are the World”, “Man in the Mirror” and many more.
The Jackson 5 would managed by their father Joseph, who began to book their performances. The group began performing at many clubs and bars eventually gaining attention from recording labels. In 1968, The Jackson 5 signed with Motown records. As the group progressed, Michael caught the eyes of most viewers with his amazingly smooth and soft melodic voice. His ability to capture so much emotion while he sang is what made him seem mature for his age, and interesting to watch. The Jackson 5 quickly climbed the charts producing number one hit singles, including "ABC", “I Want You Back“, "Never Can Say Goodbye", "I 'll Be There", "Got To Be There" and “The Love You Saved". Although the group dominated the charts, Michael became a victim to child abuse at the hands of his father. This would cause Michael to remain scarred for the remainder of his adult
Although Motown no longer dominates the charts like it once did, Gordy's impact on the music trade can't be overstated. Motown's sound influenced everybody from the rock band and the Rolling Stones to newer chart-toppers like Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. A real pioneer, Gordy assembled nothing but the rock 'n' roll era's most outstanding list of artists, musicians, songwriters and producers, and in pursuing his dream, he brought 2 races together through music.
“We stuck to who we were at Motown, and the world came around.” Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown records relayed at the Occidental College’s 125th commencement ceremony in 2007. Motown was “the new voice of America” due to its great impact and influence on the music industry and society. Numerous events were happening in America at that time and Berry Gordy identified several of these factors to target the music of Motown and its artists to young audiences in specific ways. There were various social, musical and cultural factors that were critically important and of these factors, Gordy identified the segregation and the civil rights movement, the music and cultural aspects of the black community at that time.
Throughout history, and even today, music has shaped America’s culture, society, and even politics. One of the most outstanding and enduring musical movement has been from African American artists, ranging from bebop to jazz to hip-hop to rap. During the 1920’s , jazz artists stepped into the limelight and began their impact on American and even world history. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential leaders during the Harlem Renaissance and his jazz legacy and impact of American history is everlasting. A master of his craft, Armstrong and his music heavily influenced America’s white and black populations from the 1920’s and up until his death.
"Songs and the Civil Rights Movement." Songs and the Civil Rights Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
Michael Jackson wowed the world with his remarkable natural voice and dance moves that led him to make the most touching and relatable songs. Michael began singing with his four other brothers in the band the Jackson 5. At a young age,“ his voice worked beyond conventional notions of male-soul vocals – even beyond gender. He was the most advanced popular singer of his age in the history of recorded music. His untrained tenor was uncanny” (Mich...
life, as well as in the lives of the other Jackson’s, there seemed to be so much pressure for success, but they all seemed to lack self-esteem.
Early Life in Georgia. The "Godfather of Soul," James Brown, was born James Joe Brown Jr. on May 3, 1933, in a one-room shack in the woods of Barnwell, South Carolina, a few miles east of the Georgia border. When James was a little kid he was a hard working little kid that do anything to help this family. When he was at the age of six year old he was send to live with is Aunt Honey. James find Music when he was little kid. This mother left him when he was four year old, she left with another man, and while Aunt Honey would play something of a maternal role for James, the fact that she ran a brothel and sold moonshine for a living made for anything but a traditional upbringing. It was a lot of people who wanted to play music and learn at the same time they when to
The night of May 16, 1983, almost 50 million people watched one of the most spectacular performance on television (Scott 1). Jackson won 40 Billboard music awards (Scott 1). His lyrics are powerful he also talks about social causes, human race, and relationships. He inspired millions of people with the music he wrote. Since I was a little girl I listened to his music couple of my favorite songs are “Bad”, “Dirty Diana”, Make that Change”, “You are not alone”, “Billie Jean” “Smooth Criminal”. These songs where inspiring to me growing up to this day I listen to him. My siblings and me loved his movie called “The Moonwalker,” It’s about his music career when he was five years old till he went solo as an artist at the age of thirteen. I would watch his movie repeatedly. My sisters and me would try to follow his dance moves but we were always unsuccessful it was a great memory growing up. I loved the part when he turns himself into a bunny as a little girl I thought that was awesome. I would think I had magic And, I remember telling my mom “I wanted to be like Michael Jackson because he has powers” my mother would just laugh. One of his quotes from his lyrics that is powerful to me is “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, then make that change,” this
You know him as the singer, the dancer, and the song writer. As the famous Artist whose words were often binary. As a man that was regarded with much adulation and scrutiny for singing and acting with audacity. The one and only, Michael Joseph Jackson, well known performer and the producer of many great songs, as well as the inventor of the moonwalk. Jackson often released songs that had powerful messages behind them e.g. 'We Are the World' and “Black and White”. Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” released as part of the “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” album in 1996, was addressed to “the people” in an effort to promote equality, justice, and peace. However, it led to unexpected controversy
Jackson also influenced one of today's most popular music artists Bruno Mars who stated why he liked Michael Jackson so much:
Known to fans and admires as the “Godfather of Soul”, “Mr. Dynamite”, “Soul Brother Number One”, and “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business”, James Brown was one of the most influential 20th century music figures, especially when it comes to soul, funk, rhythm & blues, and rap, awing and inspiring millions in a career that lasted some six decades. His energetic vocals and distinctive choreography propelled the popularity of Rhythm and Blues and influenced many artists and genres to come. But it was more than just his unique voice and style that made him stand out as he continually triumphed over adversity and was a beneficent advocate of social and civil rights as well as a proponent of the benefits of childhood education.
When America first met Jackson, he was a charming, likeable young teen that had a solid voice playing with his music family group called the Jackson 5. The flow of his music had: pop, rock, disco and jazz; Jackson tone had all of that. He began his solo career in which he became one of the most dominate figure in the music industry. The released of Thriller was the six album that had the world thrilled since this type of genre was never seen before. Every month 1 million of copies were sold. A mixture of tones, and fashion outfitted his dancing moves. Michael Jackson a singer and songwriter referred by his fans the “King of Pop” or by his initials “MJ” had a much bigger vision not only to rejuvenate music but to change people’s life throughout his talent and dedication he had towards his music. Jackson helped brake barriers being the first African American to ever appear in the MTV. The album Thriller changed the dynamic of the world in how we appreciate music. This mix of tones was much likeable to dance than any artist at the time. Michael Jackson with his album released Thriller in 1983 conquered the pop culture in how we listen music in today society. Michael Jackson made music video a viable art form instead of an advertising stunt, putting in special effects, themes, dance routines, and cameo appearances in to them. Although earlier the videos were viewed in most cases as a way to generate “buzz”, the music videos of Michael Jackson were like a magnate that you couldn’t separate the song from the images of thriller.
“A star can never die. It just turns into a smile and melts back into the cosmic music, the dance of life,” Michael Joseph Jackson once said. Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, musician and dancer. He was one of nine children born in a working-class African American family. Michael was introduced to music by his parents at a very young age and since then his potential in singing and dancing began to emerge. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life made him a worldwide figure in popular culture for over four decades (“Biography”). Although Michael Jackson was a controversial figure, he had a massive influence on the world, through inspiring music, breathtaking performances, and generous charities; he will always be remembered as one of the most significant artists in America.