H*4745 Concurrent Resolution, By R. Smith, Anderson, Askins, J.M. Baxley, 
D.W. Beatty, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Cobb-Hunter, 
J.L.M. Cromer, Davenport, Gamble, S.E. Gonzales, Govan, J.L. Harris, Harrison, 
J. Hines, T.E. Huff, H.G. Hutson, Inabinett, Jennings, Littlejohn, 
J.T. McElveen, McKay, McMahand, Meacham, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Phillips, Quinn, 
I.K. Rudnick, Scott, Sharpe, Simrill, J.J. Snow, Stille, Stuart, Vaughn, 
L.S. Whipper, J.M. White, D. Williams and R.M. Young
 A Concurrent Resolution saluting James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul", for his
 outstanding career and his supreme talent of inspiring people with his musical
 gifts.

   02/16/94  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-19
   02/17/94  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-6

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

SALUTING JAMES BROWN, "THE GODFATHER OF SOUL", FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AND HIS SUPREME TALENT OF INSPIRING PEOPLE WITH HIS MUSICAL GIFTS.

Whereas, in a prolific career that has dominated the rhythm-and-blues and the popular music charts for over three decades, James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul", has reached legendary status rarely attained in the music industry; and

Whereas, James Brown is a two-time Grammy Award winner and charter member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, his mega hits include "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)", "Living in America", and "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud"; and

Whereas, his dynamic showmanship, distinctive singing style, and revolutionary dance routines have been the focus of generations of music lovers around the world; and

Whereas, as an artist, he has been a major influence on the work of such diverse superstars as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Prince, George Michael, M.C. Hammer, and Sting; and

Whereas, beginning with the release of "I'll Go Crazy" in 1960, almost every James Brown single was a hit -- among them seventy-four R&B Top Twenty entries, including seventeen No. 1's and more than fifty million records sold; and

Whereas, he has amassed more charting pop singles than any other artist in history, with the exception of Elvis Presley; and Whereas, despite his humble beginnings James Brown's determination helped him fight his way to the top; abandoned by his mother at the age of four, he was raised in the midst of poverty in Augusta, Georgia; although his formal education went only as far as the seventh grade, his "street smarts" and positive attitude enabled him to rise above his circumstances; and

Whereas, in December, 1988, he began serving a six and one-half year sentence for failing to stop his car for a police officer and for aggravated assault; many James Brown supporters expressed concern that he was sentenced unfairly; and

Whereas, after serving fifteen months at the State Park Correctional Center in Columbia and ten months in an Aiken work release program, he was released by a parole board on February 27, 1991; and

Whereas, James Brown's first public performance since 1988, a pay-per-view event, "James Brown - Living In America - Live! One Night Only!", occurred on June 10, 1991; the event was a joint venture presented by Dutch Lewis Productions, Black Entertainment Television, and Time Warner, Inc.; this was the largest pay-per-view concert of all time; and

Whereas, James Brown's songs have been scored to more than thirty movies; and

Whereas, in 1992-93, James Brown appeared on the "Today Show", "Good Morning America", "Regis and Kathie Lee", "Arsenio Hall", "Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "CBS This Morning", "The Robert Townsend Show", "In Living Color", "Joan Rivers", "The American Music Awards", "The Grammy's", and other shows, and his compact disc set on the Polygram label was the number one selling set of all time; and

Whereas, James Brown is clearly one of the greatest musicians and entertainers of all time; and

Whereas, his gifts and his wonderful talent have inspired and uplifted countless persons around the globe, and his accent on the positive has helped him attain one success after another. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, salutes James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul", for his outstanding career and his supreme talent of inspiring people with his musical gifts.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. James Brown.