James McBride

National Book Award winner James McBride goes in search of the real James Brownand his surprising journey illuminates not only our understanding of the Godfather of Soul but the ways in which our cultural heritage has been shaped by Browns legacy.

Searching for James Brown and the American Soul

Kill 'em and Leave

Andrew Marti

After MLK, James Brown is arguably the most famous Georgian ever. Certainly, the state's greatest entertainer. At one point in the 60s, he was the most famous man in America. 

This book is not so much about Brown, but more about his legacy: his friends, where he came from, and the long sad trail of lawsuits left behind. McBride is a gifted writer, inserting himself in the story. McBride tracks down friends of Brown's, visiting forgotten backroads, in search of the true Brown.

Highly recommended.

'A formidable free-style book that isn't straight biography but a mix of history, street-level investigative reporting, hagiography, Deep South sociology, music criticism, memoir and some fiery preaching' Rolling Stone magazine A Guardian best music book of 2016 The music of James Brown was almost a genre in its own right, and he was one of the biggest and most influential cultural figures of the twentieth century. But the singer known as the 'Hardest Working Man in Show Business' was also an immensely troubled, misunderstood and complicated man. Award-winning writer James McBride, himself a professional musician, has undertaken a journey of discovery in search of the 'real' James Brown, delving into the heartbreaking saga of Brown's childhood and destroyed estate, and uncovering the hidden history of Brown's early years.

Kill 'em and Leave Searching for James Brown and the American Soul

Reviews