This is Mark Cox. With J.B. From 1965 until 2004. There is so much history here, and so many things that bring back memories. I can’t even begin to scratch the surface ! Jimmy Nolan was living in Atlanta with a woman name Lunita when he had his fatal heart attack. When we were coming back from a tour out west, he was having a lot of indigestion in the bus but he kept drinking soda hoping it would cure after we got to Atlanta and everybody split up and went to wherever they were living. Give me lay down for a while at Lunitas house and never woke up. The idea was to have him buried in Okmulgee Oklahoma, so this bitch name Lunita went down to Augusta to break some money loose from J.B. To have Jimmy buried. Sinclair, Pinckney and myself flew up to Tulsa and contacted dryer funeral home to receive the body from the airport and take it out to burial in Okmulgee Oklahoma cemetery. It was frozen ground and a blizzard on that day and Sinclair now was getting sick because he was connected to Jimmy at the hip for all these years. Bobby Roche was one of the original transition players that was with us when James decided to completely change his bag and come up with something totally fresh and break away from that old bullshit blues. We went down to Charlotte, North Carolina and recorded in The Arthur Smith studio. From that session came, I got you (I Feel Good) Papa’s got a brand new bag. I am up there in years now and we’ve lost everybody that was in the original group that did the Apollo back in 61 and Maceo is very ill no longer able to work. Pee-wee Ellis I can’t tell you where he is because I don’t know. Fred Wesley ? The great Johnny Griggs should be young enough to still be around. Danny Ray died a few years ago. I believe he was about 90 and then we get back to the guy who were down in the basement of that radio station in Toccoa, baby, Lloyd Stallworth, Nayfloyd Scott, Nashpendel Knox , Bobby Byrd, bobby Bennett, I can’t remember who else was down there, but there was a Satellite George and ? James would purposely break up The shellac or slickness of tunes.
@@johnnyc.holmes4251 Mark… if you were with him all those years I wonder if you remember a Bari player Emmit Simmons… I think he was from No Caro. He came to Boston and went to the Schillinger House ( now called Berkeley College of Music)… we played together in The Weepin’ Willie All Star Blues Band… I’ve heard so many JB stories
I was Brown's engineer and production supervisor from 1972 to 1977. I don't remember ever meeting you. Pee Wee Ellis, Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo, Bobby Byrd, St. Clair Pinckney, Johnny Griggs, Richard "Kush" Griffith and Russell Crimes all passed on. I worked with them all on the J.B's Reunion album in 1999 along with Fred Wesley and Fred Thomas. I worked with Jabo and Clyde for the last time in 2007 on the "Funk For Your Ass "album with Fred Wesley. Fred Wesley and Fred Thomas are still out there doing it, I stay in touch them. Bob Both
Bobby Roach is my father. I noticed my niece (Nevaeh Garcia) commented below and you said you'd like to pick my father's brain. I will definitely give him your email that you provided and have him reach out to you. I will also share this with him. Nevertheless, You will be amazed with the stories he has that have never been told. Thank you for Acknowledging him in your videos...very much appreciated.
@Cara K Right. People will be absolutely amazed because they're never before told stories. Some extremely funny 😁 and others extremely sad. But it's James Brown history that needs to be told by an insider and not just by Hollywood.
James Brown asked me to open for him at San Quentin prison in 80 I knew Jimmy Nolan in the band and I couldn’t wait to meet him he was so nice and he used a black widow guitar by acoustic that show him complimenting me and my sound meant the world to me.
Bobby Roach was from Topeka, Kansas. James picked him up in Late 1957 or early 1958 when Nafloyd Scott quit the group. Les Buie replaced Roach around September, 1960. That is Mr. Buie, NOT Billy Davis on the 2-9-61 session that produced "Suds" etc. Billy Davis never played on a James Brown session. Nor did Sam Thomas ever play guitar with the Brown band. The credits displayed in the video are incorrect. All those guitar parts you mention are, in fact, Les Buie.Buie was the ONLY guitarist in Brown's band from September, 1960 and December, 1964, when he was replaced by Jimmy Nolen. A couple months later, Alfonzo Kellum joined the band - first as a bassist but he soon doubled on guitar.
We were in Charleston South Carolina at the legendary “County Hall” a giant surplus army WW-2 aircraft maintenance hanger that was portable! Touring acts and wrestling matches loved this place for the incredible roominess and the acoustics of a cement floor and nylon skin. A local musician was hanging around the back, trying to get an audience with Mr. Brown. He was a up-and-coming guitar player, he claimed he had every guitar riff from every James Brown song, and he wanted to get a quick audition! James heard about him and invited him in! This kid was overwhelmed! To him it was like the second coming! There standing in front of him in person was the godfather, the legendary, James Brown. After he finished gushing and telling Mr. Brown how much he was a fan, and how much he loved him. Mr. Brown asked him what he could do for him today. The young man said that he was a guitarist and had based his education on James Brown music! Would it be possible to have two minutes to show you what I can do? Mr. Brown looked at him and said what is that you have in your hand what do you call that? What do you think I call it ? and the young man looked at him and said “it’s a guitar Sir! man said well, sir, it’s called a guitar Mr. Brown turned around and said no it’s not. every instrument in my band is a drum first! The young man left totally confused. Mr. Brown considered every instrument on that stage to be first a drum. Secondly, whatever it was, but the drum carried the rhythm.
Loving these incredible stories, Mark!! I thought for a moment you were talking about Keith Jenkins' audition. But then you surprised me. Thanks, mate!
Alfonzo Kellum was from Lakeland, Florida where he played locally before joining Brown's band. When Maceo & All The Kings Men broke up, Kellum settled in Rochester, New York, where he eventually led his own band called the Midnight Blues Band. He toured with Sam & Dave for a few months in 1979.
Thanks Alan, wonderful information! How do you know all this stuff? Do you have a source I can refer to? I relied heavily on transcriptions of the compiled King Records studio session dates notes, along with my ear. Thanks again mate!
@@dannyeddyguitar I have spent my life accumulating a detailed discography of James Brown produced recordings. I also happened to work for Mr. Brown from 1969 until 1974. during which time I had access to both the King and then Polydor files. I have a memoir available "There Was A Time", have consulted on several JB-related films and have written liner notes and co-produced almost all of the Polydor/Universal reissues and compilations of his catalogue since 1992. I knew Jimmy Nolen and most of Brown's later guitarists personally. Jimmy was a sweet guy. BTW the Michel Ruppli King discography has many errors on JB sessions - some of which I am responsible for as some of the information I furnished Ruppli was later corrected via files and session reports that surfaced as well as interviews with various Brown musicians and Mr. B himself.
@@alanl126 I'm absolutely honoured and rapt that you have visited and shared these insights Alan. I've ordered There Was a Time and can't wait to devour your experiences! I'm sure you'll know the answer to this question that I could not resolve via the internet - who is the very short guitarist on the famed TAMI show? Thanks again Alan. 🙌
Saddest day of my life when jimmy died he was my best friend I miss playing those guitar parts together he taught me how to live on the road and how go deal with James Brown
Wallace Richardson never was in the James Brown Band. Like Billy Butler, Richardson was a "gun for hire" a studio musician JB used when he recorded without his own band. By the way, Bobby Roach briefly rejoined the JB band from December 1970 to February 1971 as second guitar behind Phelps "Catfish" Collins and again for a few weeks April-May, 1972.
Outstanding! Thank you for providing so much history on some of these unsung heroes of the incredible James Brown band that I grew up with. Never realized how many guitar players there were with James, outside of Jimmy Chank Nolen.
@@dannyeddyguitar , Yes, I bet it sure is. I read where Joe Beck is featured on the Hell album (1974) but I think that is for only one track. Thanks again for your incredible work.
Your videos are like taking a graduate course in The Origins of Funk Guitar… great, thank you. I’ve watch 3 so far and I may have missed an analysis of Bobby Byrds I Know You Got Soul… Sounds like James counts it off then it’s all Bobby… in my humble opinion one of the funkyest things he’s done
Amazing work! Love all the background and research that went into this! And great playing as well! Although I have one bit of info that contradicts a long held belief of who was the "scratch" player out of the Nolen/Kellum combo. My source is "The Funkmasters The Great James Brown Rhythm Sections 1960-1973" by Allan Slutsky and Chuck Silverman. Under the guitar parts of Cold Sweat it talks about how Kellum was actually the scratcher and Nolen "more often than not..." played licks and muted lines. I'm not disputing your research, I'm just sharing knowledge of what I have read and am thankful for all the info you shared in your video. I look forward to Chapter 2! Now that I think about it, I do have a bit of listening evidence that supports this claim that Kellum was the scratcher, especially for Cold Sweat. The album "Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas", the liner notes say Kellum was taking up bass duties and you can hear Cold Sweat is missing a guitar part. Either way, whether it was Nolen or Kellum who played the iconic scratching, we should all be thankful for their contributions to funk guitar playing.
Awesome comment, Robert! Great info re Kellum's playing too - thank you! I need to order that book and listen to the Live in Dallas show. Thanks heaps!
I can't compliment you enough on this piece of work you have done. I'm telling as many people who dug James Brown like I did, and you deserve an award for your research efforts. So please continue your research work on James Brown's Bands!!!! KEEP IT COMING 💯 👌!
Danny, you are an absolutely brilliant educator and your demeanour is so calming and friendly. I have nothing useful to add to this except to let you know that I wish there were more yous in the world.
Jeeezzz, walking around on youtube trying to learn "The Payback" riff, came accros your Vid. Top-notch presentation, very tasteful editing,... got hooked immediately, new subscriber ;) Bravo and thanks for sharing this rich content.
The info on Billy ‘JC’ Davis is very interesting. I played along side Billy in an oldies show a couple of times maybe 8-9 yrs ago. Are pleasure to meet and talk with .
Thanks for checking it out. Love that Billy Butler tune - the Thumb - you have on your channel too! Phenomenal tone and clarity on those lowdown notes!
Just stumbled on your channel today and became an immediate fan. As the producer of the Motherlode and Jungle Groove albums and others from the 80's for Polydor I can't wait for part 2. And here I thought Cliff White and I were the JB experts...your knowledge and talent are astounding!
I don’t remember in my history more than one similar video on RU-vid about playing the funk guitar that would delve so deeply into this topic and thoroughly explore the earliest works of James Brown, amazing!
@@dannyeddyguitar Totally no worries - even if you hadn't had anything about my song, I love channels like yours which have such high levels of scholarship. So much of the net is pure dross, finding actual expert research like yours is always wonderful! Keep on keeping on, dude! 💖
Man, this is so fantastic! Initially attracted by the mention of Jimmy Nolan, I watched it all, and enjoyed it. You really know your stuff . . . . youngster! Come on with more, I'll eat it all up!
This is history. That's one of the most inspiring vid I ever saw... I just played my guitar all along and came up with many ultra funky stuff ! I wish we had the same for James Brown's bassists !
Excellent presentation! I am so glad to see my former bandmate Bobby Roach recognized in this manner. Btw. He was also a teacher/mentor to Tower of Power guitarist Bruce Conte in Fresno, California. Again my compliments to you.
Wow! Jimi! Thanks heaps, mate! I actually had the chance to speak with Bobby - check this out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-H-_oaZ53u0k.html
Great repot mate my favourite JB has to be Cold Sweat from 67 or 68 ? Who was on that recording ? I heard it was put together quickly and alledgedly heralded the formal end of the Great american songbook ? Ha ha certainly changed things Drummer Mitch Mitchel then with Hendrix tried to incorperate it in Hey little miss Lover ? Its all good fascinating its good to have hobbies and interests ciao
@@dannyeddyguitar I remember working on that one bar riff for hours and almost but never quite copping the feel… make it easy on us all! But seriously this is a great history lesson as well as the broken down riffs. Thank You 🙏
Thanks so much for your work...which you seem to enjoy immensely! Can't wait to hear your upcoming Wayne Bennett tribute...I feel him so much in your JB show....xGreg
Thought I’d check out a few minutes and couldn’t leave. Nice work, Danny, you’ve obviously done a deep, deep dive on a musician who I have an immense respect for, as do you. It was a joy to listen to your dissertation, keep up the good work!
This is one of most comprehensive and impressive feats of RU-vid Guitar Nerdery I’ve ever beheld on the platform. It deserves way more than 19k views. This had to have taken so much work to research and put together. Thank you. Subbed!
Wow, thanks! Lovely comment. Yes, this and it's successive video took months of work. And, yes, it's terrifically difficult to get the RU-vid algorithm to recommend videos like this! Thanks for the sub
Mr. Leeds! Thanks for checking it out again. I realise I'm in no position to debate your statement, but... I really think that's Wallace. For a start there's only ever one guitar playing at a time, and secondly, if you check out Wally's solo release, Soul Guru, the lead break here definitely sounds like his playing.
JUST PLAIN FUNK was recorded Aug. 30, 1967, at King Studios in Cincinnati with The Dapps. It may resemble Wallace but it's almost certainly "Fat Eddie" Setser. No reason to believe Richardson, a NYC studio cat would have been anywhere near this session..
You mention King Records "transcripts" as a source. Were those actual session reports with personnels? I had access to King's files in 1970 but they were woefully incomplete. I also had access to the Universal tape vault in the 1980's during which I was able to examine every JB tape box (King, Smash, Polydor et.al.)in the vault and gather specific dates and locations of sessions. The info for JB sessions in the King discogs by M. Ruppli contains many errors, thru no fault of Mr. Ruppli.. BTW, sorry for repeating stuff. I forgot what I had posted a year or more ago, LOL. YOUR work is terrific. All these cats deserve the attention!
I played with jimmy holes for 5 years I was with him when he died we were voted number 77 for best guitar duo and I played with jimmy on a song called Today which was nominated for a grammy
echo the comments on here. Danny great work, loved this well researched and hugely educational and fascinating trip through the history of JBs guitaists. and all things included; the people, styles, influences, connections and how it shaped JBs sound through the ages. thank YOU man!!
Thanks Bob! That was Jimmy Nolen and Al Kellum with a great example of their contrary parts. (If you're referring to the version on I Can't Stand Myself.)
