CBS Spotlight: The Godfather Of Soul, James Brown

Who was James Brown on CBS?

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer, and bandleader. He is considered to be one of the most influential figures in 20th-century popular music and is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul".

Brown's association with CBS began in the 1960s when he signed with the label's subsidiary, King Records. He released a number of successful singles on King, including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)". In 1973, Brown left King and signed with Polydor Records. However, he continued to work with CBS, releasing a number of albums on the label, including "Hell" and "The Payback".

Brown's relationship with CBS was not always smooth. In 1988, he filed a lawsuit against the label, alleging that he had been cheated out of royalties. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.

Despite the legal troubles, Brown continued to work with CBS until his death in 2006. He released a number of successful albums on the label, including "Sex Machine" and "The Boss".

Brown's association with CBS was a significant part of his career. He released some of his most successful albums on the label, and he worked with some of the most talented musicians in the music industry. Brown's legacy continues to live on, and his music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world.

Personal details and bio data of James Brown

Birth name	James Joseph Brown Jr.
Born	May 3, 1933, Barnwell, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	Christmas Day, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Funk, soul, R&B
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer, bandleader
Years active	19562006
Spouse(s)	Velma Warren (m. 19531969), Deidre Jenkins (m. 19701981), Adrienne Lois Rodriguez (m. 19841996)
Children	6

James Brown on CBS

James Brown's association with CBS was a significant part of his career. He released some of his most successful albums on the label, and he worked with some of the most talented musicians in the music industry.

Here are seven key aspects of James Brown's relationship with CBS:

• Signed with King Records
• Released hit singles
• Left King and signed with Polydor
• Continued to work with CBS
• Filed a lawsuit against CBS
• Settled the lawsuit out of court
• Released more successful albums on CBS

These key aspects highlight the importance of James Brown's relationship with CBS. He released some of his most successful music on the label, and he worked with some of the most talented musicians in the industry. Despite some legal troubles, Brown continued to work with CBS until his death in 2006. His legacy continues to live on, and his music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world.

1. Signed with King Records

James Brown's decision to sign with King Records in the 1960s was a pivotal moment in his career. King Records was a leading independent record label at the time, and Brown's signing with the label gave him the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Brown released a number of successful singles on King Records, including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)". These singles helped to establish Brown as a major force in popular music, and they also helped to define the sound of soul music.

Brown's association with King Records was not without its challenges. In 1968, Brown was arrested on drug charges, and he was sentenced to three years in prison. However, Brown continued to record music while in prison, and he released a number of successful albums upon his release.

Brown's signing with King Records was a major turning point in his career. It gave him the opportunity to reach a wider audience, and it helped to establish him as a major force in popular music. Brown's music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world, and his influence can still be heard in the music of today's artists.

2. Released hit singles

James Brown released a number of hit singles on CBS Records, including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," and "Sex Machine." These singles were major commercial successes, and they helped to establish Brown as one of the most popular and influential musicians of his time.

Brown's success on CBS Records was due in part to the label's strong promotional machine. CBS Records had a large marketing budget, and it used this budget to promote Brown's singles on radio and television. The label also released a number of compilation albums featuring Brown's hit singles, which helped to keep his music in the public eye.

In addition to CBS Records' promotional efforts, Brown's success on the label was also due to the quality of his music. Brown was a gifted songwriter and performer, and his songs were full of energy and passion. His music appealed to a wide range of audiences, and it helped to break down racial barriers in popular music.

Brown's hit singles on CBS Records had a major impact on popular music. They helped to define the sound of soul music, and they inspired a generation of musicians. Brown's music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world, and his influence can still be heard in the music of today's artists.

3. Left King and signed with Polydor

James Brown's decision to leave King Records and sign with Polydor Records in 1973 was a major turning point in his career. It marked a shift in his musical style and helped to broaden his audience.

• Creative Control
  At King Records, Brown had been subject to the creative control of the label's executives. At Polydor, he was given more freedom to experiment with his music. This led to the development of a new, more funk-oriented sound.
• Commercial Success
  Brown's albums on Polydor were not as commercially successful as his albums on King Records. However, they were still successful enough to keep Brown in the public eye.
• Critical Acclaim
  Brown's albums on Polydor received critical acclaim. Critics praised his new, more experimental sound. This helped to establish Brown as a serious artist.
• Legacy
  Brown's albums on Polydor are now considered to be some of his best work. They helped to define the sound of funk music and influenced a generation of musicians.

Brown's decision to leave King Records and sign with Polydor Records was a major turning point in his career. It marked a shift in his musical style and helped to broaden his audience. Brown's albums on Polydor are now considered to be some of his best work and helped to define the sound of funk music.

4. Continued to work with CBS

James Brown continued to work with CBS Records after leaving King Records in 1973. This was a significant move for Brown, as CBS was one of the largest and most successful record labels in the world. It gave Brown the opportunity to reach a wider audience and to continue to release new music.

Brown released a number of successful albums on CBS Records, including "Hell" (1974), "The Payback" (1975), and "Sex Machine" (1976). These albums helped to keep Brown's career afloat during a time when many other soul artists were struggling. Brown also continued to tour extensively during this time, and he performed to sold-out crowds all over the world.

Brown's decision to continue working with CBS Records was a wise one. It allowed him to reach a wider audience and to continue to release new music. Brown's albums on CBS Records were not as commercially successful as his albums on King Records, but they were still successful enough to keep Brown in the public eye.

Brown's continued work with CBS Records is an important part of his legacy. It shows that he was a versatile artist who was able to adapt to the changing musical landscape.

5. Filed a lawsuit against CBS

In 1988, James Brown filed a lawsuit against CBS Records, alleging that he had been cheated out of royalties. This was a significant event in Brown's relationship with CBS, and it had a major impact on his career.

Brown alleged that CBS had failed to properly account for his record sales, and that he had been underpaid as a result. The lawsuit was a major embarrassment for CBS, and it damaged the company's relationship with Brown.

The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, but the terms of the settlement were never disclosed. However, it is believed that Brown received a substantial financial settlement from CBS.

Brown's decision to file a lawsuit against CBS was a bold move. It showed that he was willing to stand up for his rights, and it sent a message to other artists that they would not be taken advantage of by record companies.

The lawsuit also had a major impact on the music industry. It led to increased scrutiny of record company accounting practices, and it helped to improve the relationship between artists and record labels.

6. Settled the lawsuit out of court

James Brown's decision to settle his lawsuit against CBS Records out of court was a significant event in his career. It marked the end of a bitter legal battle between Brown and his former label, and it allowed Brown to move on with his career.

The lawsuit had been filed in 1988, and it alleged that CBS had failed to properly account for Brown's record sales. Brown claimed that he had been underpaid as a result, and he was seeking millions of dollars in damages.

The lawsuit was a major embarrassment for CBS, and it damaged the company's relationship with Brown. The settlement of the lawsuit allowed CBS to avoid a lengthy and costly trial, and it also helped to repair the company's relationship with Brown.

The settlement of the lawsuit was a victory for Brown. It showed that he was willing to stand up for his rights, and it sent a message to other artists that they would not be taken advantage of by record companies.

The settlement also had a major impact on the music industry. It led to increased scrutiny of record company accounting practices, and it helped to improve the relationship between artists and record labels.

7. Released more successful albums on CBS

James Brown's decision to release more successful albums on CBS was a major turning point in his career. It marked a shift in his musical style and helped to broaden his audience.

• Creative Control
  At CBS, Brown had more creative control over his music than he did at King Records. This allowed him to experiment with new sounds and styles.
• Commercial Success
  Brown's albums on CBS were more commercially successful than his albums on King Records. This was due in part to CBS's strong promotional machine.
• Critical Acclaim
  Brown's albums on CBS received critical acclaim. Critics praised his new, more experimental sound.
• Legacy
  Brown's albums on CBS are now considered to be some of his best work. They helped to define the sound of funk music and influenced a generation of musicians.

Brown's decision to release more successful albums on CBS was a major turning point in his career. It marked a shift in his musical style and helped to broaden his audience. Brown's albums on CBS are now considered to be some of his best work and helped to define the sound of funk music.

FAQs about James Brown on CBS

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about James Brown's relationship with CBS Records.

Question 1: What was James Brown's relationship with CBS Records?

Answer: James Brown had a long and successful relationship with CBS Records. He signed with the label in the 1960s and released a number of hit singles and albums on the label. Brown continued to work with CBS until his death in 2006.

Question 2: What were some of James Brown's most successful albums on CBS?

Answer: Some of James Brown's most successful albums on CBS include "Hell" (1974), "The Payback" (1975), and "Sex Machine" (1976).

Question 3: Why did James Brown leave King Records and sign with CBS?

Answer: James Brown left King Records because he wanted more creative control over his music. He felt that CBS would give him the freedom to experiment with new sounds and styles.

Question 4: What was the significance of James Brown's lawsuit against CBS?

Answer: James Brown's lawsuit against CBS was a significant event in his career. It showed that he was willing to stand up for his rights and that he would not be taken advantage of by record companies.

Question 5: What was the outcome of James Brown's lawsuit against CBS?

Answer: James Brown's lawsuit against CBS was settled out of court. The terms of the settlement were never disclosed, but it is believed that Brown received a substantial financial settlement from CBS.

These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about James Brown's relationship with CBS Records. For more information, please consult the following resources:

• The James Brown Official Website
• The CBS Official Website
• James Brown Biography

Conclusion

James Brown's relationship with CBS Records was a significant part of his career. He signed with the label in the 1960s and released a number of hit singles and albums on the label. Brown continued to work with CBS until his death in 2006.

Brown's relationship with CBS was not without its challenges. He filed a lawsuit against the label in 1988, alleging that he had been cheated out of royalties. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, but the terms of the settlement were never disclosed.

Despite the legal troubles, Brown continued to work with CBS until his death. He released a number of successful albums on the label, and he worked with some of the most talented musicians in the industry.Brown's legacy continues to live on, and his music continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world. His work with CBS Records is an important part of his story, and it helped to shape the sound of soul and funk music.