“Lost Someone”
A Chicano Remembrance of the Late James Brown
by David Madrid

Early Christmas morning is when I heard the news that James Brown had passed away, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Although I never met him in person it feels as if I lost a family friend.

Like many Chicano's who's families have been here in the United States for generations, I have a strong connection to classic soul and R&B music. Legendary greats such as Sam Cook, Etta James, and James Brown make up the soundtrack of my family's history. It's the music of my grandparents and parents that has been embraced and passed down onto me.          

The “Godfather of Soul,” Mr. James Brown has always been a personal favorite of mine, and I know I am not alone.   He has always had a strong presence in the Latino community. He is apart of so many peoples everyday lives, from the homeboy's cruising around town bumping “Papa don't take no mess” to the families that spend Sunday nights gathered around the stereo, waiting for their dedication of “Try me” to be aired.   It seems as if everyone has their own favorite James Brown tune and a time to remember.

As for me, I can still remember one of the first times that I really listened to a James Brown song, I must have been ten or eleven going through my uncles old stack of 45's and their it was. The record looked as if it was played a million times. In silver lettering on a faded blue label it was printed “Oh baby, don't you weep.” I threw it on the turntable and I was immediately hooked.   Its' infectious soulful rhythm became one of my favorite tunes of all time. James created a lot of great music during his career, but nothing spoke to me as much as his earlier works. His late 50's and 60's ballads can touch your soul and give a voice to the feelings that you have tucked deep inside. A lot of his songs I truly couldn't grasp until I lived, loved and lost. And James was there with me through it all. From the break up's of old high school sweethearts, with the tune.“ Since you've been gone” to my wedding day grooving with my beautiful wife to the “Lost someone melody (live ‘68)” James Brown has been apart of my life and he will be missed greatly.

On Christmas day I received phone calls from friends and family that offered me condolences and asked me if I knew what happened to James, as if I knew him personally. In a way I guess I did know him, it's no secret that I'm a big James Brown fan. I have been collecting his music for years now. Not just his greatest hits CD's but the vast Varity of albums the he has produced over the years. That's right me and James go a long way back.   And you know what's funny, I still haven't heard every thing he has recorded,   for he truly was the hardest working man in show business.

Even though he has passed on, I know that the legacy of his music will continue to live on forever. He has made a lasting impression not just with me and my family but through out the Barrios of the United States. His spirit will continue to touch future generations of Latinos to come. God bless him and may he rest in peace.

In loving memory of the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown (Music box)
May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006

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