by BBG

Pioneer of the musical artform known as go-go music, Chuck Brown passed on at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore today according to The Washington Post. The DC native was hospitalized due to pnuemonia contracted after an operation to remove a blood clot, and reportedly was been under hospital care since.

A saturday night in Washington DC wouldnt be the same if it wasn't for the omnipresent blast of go-go music heard over the airwaves and out of most of the cars in downtown DC. Thank Chuck Brown for that.

Like a DJ blending records, Mr. Brown used nonstop percussion to stitch songs together and keep the crowd on the dance floor, resulting in marathon performances that went deep into the night. Mr. Brown said the style got its name because "the music just goes and goes."

In addition to being go-go's principal architect, Mr. Brown remained the genre's most charismatic figure. On stage, his spirited call-and-response routines became a hallmark of the music, reinforcing a sense of community that allowed the scene to thrive. As go-go became a point of pride for black Washingtonians, Mr. Brown became one of the city's most recognizable figures. [-The Washington Post]

RIP Chuck Brown. Your legacy will live on in the music.

Check out some videos below.

Continue reading "Chuck Brown, RIP"

by BBG

Anyone who has spent any significant amount of time in Washington, DC is familiar with the rhythmic conga/bongo cadence of the regional music phenomenon called Go-Go. One of the godfathers of the Go-Go movement is Chuck Brown.

Brown's musical career began in the 1960s playing guitar with Jerry Butler and The Earls of Rhythm, joining Los Latinos in 1965. He still performs music today and is commonly known in the Washington, DC area. Brown's early hits include "I Need Some Money" and "Bustin' Loose"... [the latter of which was] interpolated by Nelly for his 2002 number one hit "Hot in Herre." Brown also recorded go-go covers of early jazz and blues songs, such as "Go-Go Swing" Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If Ain't Got That Swing", "Moody's Mood for Love", Johnny Mercer's "Midnight Sun", Louis Jordan's "Run Joe", and T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday"..

He has influenced other go-go bands such as Big G and The Backyard Band, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited (EU) [yes, the E.U. responsible for doin' "Da Butt"], Little Benny and the Masters, and Trouble Funk. ..Brown is considered a local legend in Washington, D.C., and has appeared in television advertisements for the Washington Post and other area companies. -[Wiki]

For some of you beatheads/sample nerds, you may also recognize Chuck Brown's work from the highly sampled "Ashley's Roachclip" from the Soul Searchers' Salt of the Earth LP, which was sampled by everyone from Duran Duran to Eric B & Rakim (audio below, head to 3:30).

Chuck Brown has a few upcoming shows scheduled and makes a stop in NYC to play two gigs on July 30th, a free Celebrate Brooklyn show in Prospect Park with Dr. John and the Lower 911 & Red Baraat, and a later show at SOB's. SOB's tickets are on sale.

All tour dates and some video below.

Continue reading "Chuck Brown is playing shows (two NYC dates included)"

The National show in Prospect Park (more by Amanda Hatfield)

We already knew that 'Celebrate Brooklyn' is hosting an impressive lineup of ticketed Prospect Park Bandshell shows this summer: The Decemberists, Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver & Cut Copy. And we knew that the 33rd annual series of free shows would start with an Andrew Bird show on June 10th, and that BRIC is also hosting three free 'dance parties' in Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer too.

Now the entire 2011 lineup of "24 free performances, including 20 music concerts, two dance performances, two film screenings with live music, and a family concert" is here! You can check it all out (The Feelies, Real Estate, The Books, Junip, Doveman, Justin Townes Earle, Punch Brothers, Raekwon, Oumou Sangaré, Times New Viking, Ra Ra Riot, Delicate Steve, Buke & Gass and Hal Willner included), below...

Continue reading "Celebrate Brooklyn - complete 2011 Prospect Park show lineup"