James Brown Gets His Way

This could just be Mike Bloomberg's way of ingratiating himself to African-Americans. The move comes just in time for Barack Obama's inauguration and the mayor's ridiculous run for a third term.

It has been announced that the street behind Harlem's Apollo Theater is now officially "James Brown Way." It's a good spot. It's West 126th Street between 7th Avenue (Adam Clayton Powell, Jr Blvd) and 8th Avenue (Frederick Douglass Blvd). It's where the Apollo's stage door is located. Politically or no, it's a great move.

I had the honor of being one of James Brown's managers in the years before his death. I spent some time with him on West 126th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. I know all about James Brown's Way.

So, with this announcement by the Emperor Mike of New York, I thought it appropriate to give you some insight to James Brown's Way as taught to me by The Godfather of Soul along the way:

Always make sure your hair is done. I know how much that mug shot hurt him. James Brown's hair was one of his trademarks. He spent hours on it before he went anywhere; whether onto a stage or to the gas station.

Make sure your clothes are clean, pressed and sharp. As a boy, Mr. Brown was thrown out of school in Augusta, GA for wearing hand-me-downs. As an adult, the man never wore tattered clothes again.

Refer to everyone as Mister, Miss, Mrs, Ma'am, Sir, Dr, or Rev. In Mr. Brown's crew, no one ever had a first name.

Never let a lady go to the restroom alone. According to "The James Brown Way" if your woman was gorgeous enough, someone was always at the restroom waitin' to take her from you.

Don't ever trust the Government... Federal, State, City or Local... who can disagree with this one.

Stay in school; don't be a dropout. He started saying this in 1968 and preached it till his death.

Don't eat red meat...it's bad for you. Except for hot dogs and hamburgers.

Own everything you do or someone will most definitely steal it from you.

Someone will most definitely steal from you.

Harlem is the only part of New York City that is above sea-level. When the flood comes, everyone's gonna wanna be there.

Always let them see you sweat. The man who put "the wet into sweat" always looked younger at the end of a show. Why? Because he was sweatin' out the toxins.

If you follow the James Brown Way, life, in the words of the Godfather of Soul himself, will be "as sweet as bear meat"

Maybe King, Powell, Douglass and Malcolm got Boulevards.

But, in the end, James Brown got his Way.

Comments

[Dmolinaro]

WOW tio that was a great article!!! You have such a way with words!!! :)

[GoBills]

Wow....great piece.....i do remember him saying that about hot dogs.....he was awesome....really miss him....so happy that you were his manager in the end of his life....that is so cool to be his guy!

[ShebeenCrawler]

A beautiful article. I'll be sure to visit James Brown Way when I'm next in NYC.

[larry278]

YES, when I go to the city again, I have to see that. If you go to NYC & don't see James Brown Way, it will be like going to Louisville & missing the street named after Ali, the Greatest ,or going to Easton, Pa & missing the street named after Larry Holmes, the Easton Assassin(sp?), or missing the museum with steps in Philly that Rocky made famous or missing Lombard St in San Francisco. Put it on your bucket list. You only live once but if you do it right; you only need it once. James Brown did it right.

[devadasi]

James Brown was a shaman. When I dance to his music I go into a trance like state......as a dance therapist I often use his music in my workshops and the participants go wild.

[GrainOSand]

Brother James rolls on, he would be proud of living in America.