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The Godfather of Soul’s legacy can never be forgotten.
James Brown: Say it Loud will be the latest television event to showcase the soul legend’s life within and outside of music. The Roots bandmates Questlove and Black Thought are executive producers of the docuseries along with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The show is expected to air on A&E around the timeframe of James Brown’s birthday month in May 2023. James Brown would’ve been 90 years-old in 2023.
The docuseries will encompass Brown’s legacy with interviews with friends, family, collaborators, proteges and includes never-been-seen-before archival footage. Viewers will get to see the journey of a young seventh-grade dropout who was arrested for robbery to becoming one of the most legendary entertainers. Of course at the core of everything, the music catalog that influenced many beyond his lifetime will be heard.
Questlove is coming off the success of his documentary Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised). Questlove’s award winning directorial debut gave people an inside look into one of the greatest black concerts to never be celebrated. His presence in this James Brown docuseries could be just as fantastic. Mick Jagger has always been an admirer of James Brown. He’s worked on several related documentaries after James Brown’s passing. Mick Jagger had been a producer on HBO’s Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown and the James Brown biopic, Get On Up, that featured the late Chadwick Boseman.
Mick Jagger continues to support one of his idols and is “thrilled” to be a part of the docuseries.
He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement.
I have always admired James and learned so much from him.
James Brown’s death on Christmas Day in 2006 shook the music world.
It shortly thereafter that his famous public funeral at the Apollo Theatre brought out music legends like Michael Jackson and Prince to pay their respects. His influence on Black music translated way beyond his lifetime. According to WhoSampled, James Brown’s music has been sampled more than 14,000 times. His star at the height of his powers was like no other.
Questlove and Black Thought shared the same sentiments in a statement.
The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, which inspires us and other artists to this day, but also for the deep and lasting impression he has had on American culture.
Brown’s life is a crucial and timely story of struggle, redemption, and self-identity and we are honored to have the chance to share it.
