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WASHINGTON - Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement about James Brown, who passed away at the age of 73 on December 25, 2006.
"There will never be another James Brown. He was a unique diamond, a musical genius who will forever be in our hearts as the Godfather of Soul because he stirred and inspired us not just to dance, but to feel proud and celebrate all that we are.
Harlem has always shared a special relationship with Brown. We adopted him as a son and provided him with his musical home, the Apollo. It was here in 1962, at the famous Apollo Theater, that he recorded his groundbreaking live album. It was on our stage that audiences gave him the love that took his career to another level. It was a love that he returned on more than one occasion, supporting it not just with his music, but also financially, when the Apollo hit troubled times.
Yet he was more than just the world's greatest entertainer. More than an innovator that inspired artists of all shades. He was a civil rights activist, lending both his name and his money to causes of social justice for more than four decades. He was a bridge between generations, lending credibility to the positive aspects, but not the negative messages, of hip-hop culture.
James Brown forever redefined how we listen, experience and appreciates music. He leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten, a soulful beat and rhythm for all to rock to for generations to come.
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