James Brown: Calling Mr. Dynamite

WHEN JAMES Brown first took to being called The Godfather of Soul, it was more to play upon the faddish success of Francis Ford Coppola's hit film than anything else. But the appropriateness of the tag went well beyond its novelty value, especially in the era after disco, for as funk became the rhythmic standard by which dance music, black or white, was judged, Brown's contribution was unmistakable. Indeed, it's arguable that funk as we know it simply wouldn't exist had James Brown not been on hand to act as its musical midwife.