IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 65 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that James Brown, 

also known as the ‘‘Godfather of Soul’’, should be recognized for his 

contributions to American music as one of the greatest and most influential entertainers of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as an American cultural 

icon. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 26, 2009 

Mr. RANGEL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Education and Labor 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

James Brown, also known as the ‘‘Godfather of Soul’’, 

should be recognized for his contributions to American 

music as one of the greatest and most influential entertainers of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as an American 

cultural icon. 

Whereas James Brown was a musician and bandleader, entrepreneur, philanthropist, advocate for education, and 

creator of the musical background for the Civil Rights 

Movement; 

Whereas James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina; 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
2 

•HCON 65 IH 

Whereas James Brown was raised in dire poverty in Augusta, 

Georgia, where in his childhood years he helped to support his family by picking cotton and shining shoes; 

Whereas he began his musical career as a singer with the 

‘‘The Gospel Starlighters’’ in 1955; 

Whereas later that year he had his first musical success as 

a member of a group called ‘‘The Flames’’ whose first 

single, ‘‘Please, Please, Please’’, sold over 1,000,000 copies; 

Whereas James Brown delighted audiences around the world 

with his unique dance moves and nonstop energy; 

Whereas his shows at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, and other venues were consistently sold 

out; 

Whereas James Brown became known nationally as a superstar after the release of a live recorded performance at 

the Apollo in 1963; 

Whereas his 1968 recording ‘‘Say It Loud I’m Black and I’m 

Proud’’, became a virtual anthem for the Civil Rights 

Movement, reflecting African-Americans’ new-found pride 

in their racial identity; 

Whereas James Brown was inducted into the Rock and Roll 

Hall of Fame in New York on January 23, 1986; 

Whereas he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement 

Award at the 34th annual Grammy Awards on February 

25, 1992; 

Whereas James Brown received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2003; 

Whereas he was inducted into the United Kingdom Music 

Hall of Fame on November 14, 2006; 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
3 

•HCON 65 IH 

Whereas James Brown was a trailblazer and pioneer in the 

music genres of Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, 

Funk, and Hip Hop; 

Whereas because of poverty, he dropped out of school in the 

7th grade; 

Whereas James Brown became a staunch advocate for education; 

Whereas his signature song, ‘‘Don’t Be A Dropout’’, released 

in 1966, urged young people to stay in school; 

Whereas James Brown owned radio stations, publishing companies, and record labels; 

Whereas to honor his wish of supporting musical creativity in 

young people, his family has established the James 

Brown Music Education Foundation which will provide 

music scholarships for aspiring musicians; 

Whereas James Brown died on December 25, 2006, in Atlanta Georgia; and 

Whereas in recognition of his close association with the Apollo Theater, his body lay in state there as thousands of 

visitors from New York and across the country filed by 

to pay their respects: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that James 

3 Brown should be recognized for his contributions as an 

4 American musical icon. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS