Early+career

Thomas Coates


 * James Brown went to jail and with his time figured he'd play alittle more music found out he is good at it and ran with it when he had the chance. When James was able to play the piano he would play and play and play thats how he got the nickname juice box. James was good friends with the boss of the jail so close that the boss of the jail acted like james's father. While in jail James Brown wrote to Bobby Byrd and first met Bobby threw the fence in jail. James brown then was let loose early because he had plans and he inpressed the boss and the right people. Then right when he got out he started on his singing career and even met some one in jail (Johnny Terry) who ends up in the Famous Flames.

The Famous Flames started with Bobby Byrd, Sylvester Keels, Doyle Oglesby, Fred Pullman, Nash Knox, Baby Roy Scott and James Brown. They sang gospel, rhythm & blues. They started playing juke joints, and their popularity started going up like crazy. Then later started playing at all kinds of colleges. During this time he married his first wife Velma Warren and later had his first son Teddy Brown. James had written "Please, Please, Please". He had trouble getting it published but then he got lucky and got King records to sign for it. Brown played it across the country and thousands of people loved it. but the record company wouldnt go any farther with it so it just became a local hit. So he left the king records and went to nnew york and got signed to Universal booking witch gave him more gigs. Then Universal suggested that they change their name to James Brown and the Famous Flames. Then the band went there a few tough times.**    