James Brown

Location Description

The statue stands in the median of Hwy 25/Broad St., between 8th and 9th St.

Bio

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. He was often referred to as the “Godfather of Soul” and was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Brown began his music career in the 1950s and went on to become a legendary performer known for his energetic stage presence and powerful vocals. He blended gospel, R&B, funk, and soul music to create his own unique sound, and is considered to be the inventor of funk music. Some of his most popular hits include “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “I Got You (I Feel Good),” and “Living in America.”

Brown was also a social and political activist, using his music to address issues of inequality and injustice. He was awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Brown died on December 25, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 73. Despite his passing, his music continues to inspire and influence musicians across multiple generations and genres. He remains a cultural icon and one of the most important figures in the history of popular music.

Monument Description

Sculpted by orthopedic surgeon John Savage, it captures Brown as he looked later in his career, wearing a stage cape and standing on a raised platform, making him appear taller than he was in real life.

Like Brown himself, the statue has been generally well-liked, but not without controversy. Its unveiling was pushed back a year after Brown was thrown into jail for threatening his fourth wife with a chair. For some reason it faces away from Augusta and toward South Carolina, literally turning Brown’s back on Georgia. The city placed it in the median of a busy street (making it inconvenient to visit) then knocked down most of the cool, shady trees around it (making it uncomfortable to visit as well).

Some city commissioners want to move bronze Brown to a more accessible spot in Augusta, while others — the ones who knocked down the trees — want to keep the statue where it is, surrounded with more James Brown tributes. Neither side has the money to accomplish its goal, so for now Brown is where he’s been since 2005, baking in the Georgia sun.

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