Synopses & Reviews
The definitive biography of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, with fascinating findings on his life as a Civil Rights activist, an entrepreneur, and the most innovative musician of our time
Playing 350 shows a year at his peak, with more than forty Billboard hits, James Brown was a dazzling showman who transformed American music. His life offstage was just as vibrant, and until now no biographer has delivered a complete profile. The One draws on interviews with more than 100 people who knew Brown personally or played with him professionally. Using these sources, award-winning writer RJ Smith draws a portrait of a man whose twisted and amazing life helps us to understand the music he made.
The One delves deeply into the story of a man who was raised in abject-almost medieval-poverty in the segregated South but grew up to earn (and lose) several fortunes. Covering everything from Brown's unconventional childhood (his aunt ran a bordello), to his role in the Black Power movement, which used andquot;Say It Loud (I'm Black and Proud)andquot; as its anthem, to his high-profile friendships, to his complicated family life, Smith's meticulous research and sparkling prose blend biography with a cultural history of a pivotal era.
At the heart of The One is Brown's musical genius. He had crucial influence as an artist during at least three decades; he inspires pity, awe, and revulsion. As Smith traces the legend's reinvention of funk, soul, RandB, and pop, he gives this history a melody all its own.
Review
andquot;Unh! Good God! RJ Smith has written a sex machine of a book and it's called The One: The Life and Music of James Brown. Get up-get on up!andquot;
Review
“A Top Spring Music Choice” –Publisher’s Weekly
Review
"This bio should be a cornerstone of soul-music-literature collections."
Booklist
Review
“…supreme, sublime biography of the Godfather of Soul” –ELLE Magazine
Review
“A best new choice for spring.” –David Kipen, KPCC
Review
“Buzz worthy Book” – New York Daily News
Review
One of the "Best New Books Around the South"
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Review
“…compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians” –Publisher’s Weekly
Review
andldquo;[The One] could possibly reinstate James Brown and his place in pop culture and also put RJ Smith on the map as THE music commentator.andrdquo;andmdash;David Kipen, KPCC
Review
andldquo;Smith never loses the beat.andrdquo; andndash; LA Magazine
Review
“Books to look for in 2012” – Daily News
Review
andldquo;The rhythm revolutionary who changed pop forever finally gets he bio he deservesandrdquo; andndash; Rolling Stone
Review
andldquo;A biography as illuminating as it is definitive.andrdquo; andndash; Rolling Stone 4.5 Stars andndash; Rolling Stone Review
"The late James Brown famously said, 'The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.' Not your bag? Read
The One (Gotham), RJ Smith’s supreme, sublime biography of the Godfather of Soul—son of the segregated South, social activist, go-for-broke businessman, self-professed thug—and you’ll get up offa that thing."
ELLE Magazine
Review
“The imperatives of biography are to record, to correct and to carve out historical significance, and Smith’s lively account succeeds on all three fronts.”
Smithsonian
Review
“Required Reading” – NY Post
Review
Review
“Great telling of a really interesting man...captures the rhythm of the man”
On Point, WBUR
Review
“R.J. Smith, a Los Angeles-based music journalist and author of the new book
The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, may have come closer than anyone to understanding how James Brown became James Brown.”
The Christian Science Monitor
Review
"RJ Smith's authoritative, keenly intelligent bio of one of the most protean of American musical giants."
Philadelphia Inquirer
Review
andldquo;A Top Spring Music Choiceandrdquo; andndash;Publisherandrsquo;s Weekly
Review
andldquo;andhellip;supreme, sublime biography of the Godfather of Soulandrdquo; andndash;ELLE Magazine
andnbsp;
Review
andldquo;A best new choice for spring.andrdquo; andndash;David Kipen, KPCC
andnbsp;
Review
andldquo;Buzz worthy Bookandrdquo; andndash; New York Daily News
andldquo;Best New Books Around the Southandrdquo; andndash;Atlanta Journal Constitution
andnbsp;
Review
andldquo;andhellip;compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musiciansandrdquo; andndash;Publisherandrsquo;s Weekly
Review
andldquo;Books to look for in 2012andrdquo; andndash; Daily News
Review
andldquo;Required Readingandrdquo; andndash; NY Post
Review
andldquo;4 Starsandrdquo; andndash; USA Today
Review
andnbsp;andldquo;great telling of a really interesting manandrdquo; andndash; On Point, WBUR
Review
"The One: The Life and Music of James Brown crackles with the same kind of exuberant energy that explodes out of grooves of one of the Godfather of Soul's classic sides." The Boston Globe
Review
"[A] showstopper...This book's sparkle speaks for itself." The New York Times
Review
A “Top Spring Music Choice” and a “…compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians… Smith’s compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians reveals affectionately and honestly the reasons we jump up every time ‘I Feel Good’ comes on the radio.” Publisher's Weekly
Review
“Smith never loses the beat.”
Los Angeles Magazine
Review
“The rhythm revolutionary who changed pop forever finally gets he bio he deserves...A biography as illuminating as it is definitive.” (4.5 Stars) Rolling Stone
Review
“Required Reading”
New York Post
Review
"Unflinching portrait of the conflicted and contradictory superstar...untangl[es] the psychological elements that came together to make James Brown, tracing his almost prescient ability to read audiences back to his days dancing for spare change from sailors and growing up in Georgia with a violent, unpredictable father.” Associated Press
Review
andquot;[A] showstopper...This book's sparkle speaks for itself.andquot;
Review
andquot;This bio should be a cornerstone of soul-music-literature collections.andquot;
andnbsp;
Review
One of the andquot;Best New Books Around the Southandquot;
andnbsp;
Review
“The One is the first of its kind to represent James as the social and cultural force he was, not just for black Americans but for all of America—in fact, all of the world.…I recommend reading [The One] for it will give you and unparalleled view into the man, the consummate entertainer, his music, and us as a nation.” Al Sharpton, The New York Times
Review
“I recommend reading [
The One] for it will give you an unparalleled view into the man, the consummate entertainer, his music, and us as a nation.” —Reverand Al Sharpton,
The New York Times Book Review “A showstopper. This book’s sparkle speaks for itself, as does Mr. Smith’s ability to take on his screaming, moaning, kinetically blessed, unbeatably shrewd subject.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“As illuminating as it is definitive.” —Rolling Stone, 4.5 stars
“[A] supreme, sublime biography.” —ELLE
“RJ Smith may have come closer than anyone to understanding how James Brown became James Brown.” —The Christian Science Monitor
“The imperatives of biography are to record, to correct, and to carve out historical significance, and Smith’s lively account succeeds on all three fronts.” —Smithsonian
"The One: The Life and Music of James Brown crackles with the same kind of exuberant energy that explodes out of grooves of one of the Godfather of Soul's classic sides." -The Boston Globe
“Top Spring Music Choice” and a “…compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians… Smith’s compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians reveals affectionately and honestly the reasons we jump up every time ‘I Feel Good’ comes on the radio.” -Publisher's Weekly
"This bio should be a cornerstone of soul-music-literature collections." -Booklist
“Smith never loses the beat.” -Los Angeles Magazine
“Required Reading.” -New York Post
"RJ Smith's authoritative, keenly intelligent bio of one of the most protean of American musical giants." -Philadelphia Inquirer
"Unflinching portrait of the conflicted and contradictory superstar...untangl[es] the psychological elements that came together to make James Brown, tracing his almost prescient ability to read audiences back to his days dancing for spare change from sailors and growing up in Georgia with a violent, unpredictable father.” -Associated Press
“Great telling of a really interesting man...captures the rhythm of the man” -On Point, WBUR
Review
andldquo;I recommend reading [
The One] for it will give you an unparalleled view into the man, the consummate entertainer, his music, and us as a nation.andrdquo; andmdash;Reverand Al Sharpton,
The New York Times Book Review andldquo;A showstopper. This bookandrsquo;s sparkle speaks for itself, as does Mr. Smithandrsquo;s ability to take on his screaming, moaning, kinetically blessed, unbeatably shrewd subject.andrdquo; andmdash;Janet Maslin, The New York Times
andldquo;As illuminating as it is definitive.andrdquo; andmdash;Rolling Stone, 4.5 stars
andldquo;[A] supreme, sublime biography.andrdquo; andmdash;ELLE
andldquo;RJ Smith may have come closer than anyone to understanding how James Brown became James Brown.andrdquo; andmdash;The Christian Science Monitor
andldquo;The imperatives of biography are to record, to correct, and to carve out historical significance, and Smithandrsquo;s lively account succeeds on all three fronts.andrdquo; andmdash;Smithsonian
andquot;The One: The Life and Music of James Brown crackles with the same kind of exuberant energy that explodes out of grooves of one of the Godfather of Soul's classic sides.andquot; -The Boston Globe
andldquo;Top Spring Music Choiceandrdquo; and a andldquo;andhellip;compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musiciansandhellip; Smithandrsquo;s compelling and detailed portrait of one of our greatest musicians reveals affectionately and honestly the reasons we jump up every time andlsquo;I Feel Goodandrsquo; comes on the radio.andrdquo; -Publisher's Weekly
andquot;This bio should be a cornerstone of soul-music-literature collections.andquot; -Booklist
andldquo;Smith never loses the beat.andrdquo; -Los Angeles Magazine
andldquo;Required Reading.andrdquo; -New York Post
andquot;RJ Smith's authoritative, keenly intelligent bio of one of the most protean of American musical giants.andquot; -Philadelphia Inquirer
andquot;Unflinching portrait of the conflicted and contradictory superstar...untangl[es] the psychological elements that came together to make James Brown, tracing his almost prescient ability to read audiences back to his days dancing for spare change from sailors and growing up in Georgia with a violent, unpredictable father.andrdquo; -Associated Press
andldquo;Great telling of a really interesting man...captures the rhythm of the manandrdquo; -On Point, WBUR
Review
andquot;The One: The Life and Music of James Brown crackles with the same kind of exuberant energy that explodes out of grooves of one of the Godfather of Soul's classic sides.andquot;
Synopsis
The definitive biography of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, with fascinating findings on his life as a Civil Rights activist, an entrepreneur, and the most innovative musician of our time
Playing 350 shows a year at his peak, with more than forty Billboard hits, James Brown was a dazzling showman who transformed American music. His life offstage was just as vibrant, and until now no biographer has delivered a complete profile. The One draws on interviews with more than 100 people who knew Brown personally or played with him professionally. Using these sources, award-winning writer RJ Smith draws a portrait of a man whose twisted and amazing life helps us to understand the music he made.
The One delves deeply into the story of a man who was raised in abject-almost medieval-poverty in the segregated South but grew up to earn (and lose) several fortunes. Covering everything from Brown's unconventional childhood (his aunt ran a bordello), to his role in the Black Power movement, which used "Say It Loud (I'm Black and Proud)" as its anthem, to his high-profile friendships, to his complicated family life, Smith's meticulous research and sparkling prose blend biography with a cultural history of a pivotal era.
At the heart of The One is Brown's musical genius. He had crucial influence as an artist during at least three decades; he inspires pity, awe, and revulsion. As Smith traces the legend's reinvention of funk, soul, R&B, and pop, he gives this history a melody all its own.
About the Author
RJ Smith has been a senior editor at Los Angeles magazine, a contributor to Blender, a columnist for The Village Voice, a staff writer for Spin, and has written for GQ, The New York Times Magazine, and Men's Vogue. His first book, The Great Black Way: LA in the 1940s and the Lost African- American Renaissance, was a Los Angeles Times bestseller and recipient of a California Book Award. He lives in Los Angeles.