The Guitarists of James Brown | History of Funk Guitar | 1969 to 1975
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- Опубликовано: 1 апр 2025
- Picking up where we left off in chapter one, this instalment follows the stories of Phelps Catfish Collins, Hearlon Cheese Martin, Robert Lee Coleman, Jimmy Nolen, and the J.B.'s, with some more Little Bobby Roach thrown in for good measure!
We also learn about some of the studio guns that contributed to James Brown's early 70s recordings, including Joe Beck, Sam Brown, Bill Pitman, and Louie Shelton.
And of course, we must talk about the Grodeck Whipperjenny project and the overlap between that work and James' Sho Is Funky Down Here.
I was well and truly blessed whilst compiling this chapter, to be graced with an interview (and lost of correspondence) with Bobby Roach - James' guitarist from the early days, who regaled me with the story of his return for Get on the Good Foot, as well as his experiences on the road and creating that beautiful guitar part for Try Me.
This mini-doco contains tablature for the funk guitar examples used throughout.
Please visit my Patreon if you wish to support me while also gaining access to tabs and lessons for all my RUclips content.
#guitar #jamesbrown #funk #funkguitar #music #bootsycollins #tablature #guitartutorial #guitartabs #1970s #seventies #documentary #musicdocumentary #history #soul
The best thing I've watched on RUclips since chapter 1!
Thanks for waiting, Stephen! Glad ya liked it.
GOOD GOD! As an alumni of the James Brown organization for 31 years I am totally amazed at the amount of content that is absolutely accurate here. I just don’t know what to say. There are so few of us still around. This is Mark by the way. LD Williams. Eddie Roche and so many of the other guys from way back then deserve to have their story told, and to get credit. Let’s not forget about baby James, and Fats Gonder. I believe there are less than four of us who were with James in the 60s who are still alive today. That would be me Mark Cox, Fred Wesley, Johnny Griggs the incredible Fred Thomas. Hollie Ferris, I have lost track with most of the guys. I will try to get a hold of you. I have so much home movie footage that I don’t know how to put on RUclips maybe I will be able to send it to you along with some other fascinating content, and you can put it on RUclips for me.
Incredible, Mark!! I'm so glad you enjoyed this, so far. I'm knee deep in pulling together part three now. And yes, it is SO much WORK!
I knew a man named Baby James who supposedly worked as a valet for James Brown. I got to know him in the world of pimps and hoes from 1974 to 1983. He was killed on the streets of Manhattan. The streets are cold-blooded.
Hi Mark, anything about Maceo & All The King's Men?
@@frankdegra3415 Sadly Mace is in a nursing home in his hometown in North Carolina. “Dementia” Traveling WILL kill you! You sleep sitting up in a worn out bus! The smell of Diesel smoke is everywhere. The windows do not seal so the air comes in and makes the sound you cannot use the restroom because there is a hole in the floor, and the shit heads right with the mufflers and is cooked! And the funk from that shit cooking on the muffler Comes inside the bus and just rolleds around fucking with everybody’s nose! So we stop at truck stops to sent a girl and dude through the Buffett and they sit down and skillfully fill up big pocketbooks hidden pockets on the inside of their jacket. All kinds of secret places and they run back-and-forth to the Buffet getting the high-priced stuff. That will take care of six people. There are so many games we used to play out there on the road in hotels we would clean out the mini bar and little icebox. We would take all the soft drinks water alcohol, fruit, basket, toiletries, etc. you learn how to get on the bus early and get the hell out of Dodge before the room maids start showing up around noon and reporting the inventory. By then you’re in another state and the company gets a big ass bill from whatever hotel and Becky Blanchard takes care of it without comment! We were staying at the Fairmont in San Francisco. I’ve been to every find hotel in the world. But this FAIRMONT Still takes my breath away. Alex Haley wrote a book which was later a television series called “hotel”
About THIS VERY HOTEL! We played the Venetian auditorium in the hotel. I didn’t hold that many people but it brought out all the millionaires and billionaires who had the $250 per ticket and they would always blow a ground on exquisite champagne! I collect rare and costly champagne bottles. I would pay the bus boys, five dollars for each bottle and they broke their necks getting me the old bottles. Anyway, we came in one night and there was no room for me and I did not want to share with Tony Cook again! We had been at the Cesar Palace in Lake Tahoe and it had a snow storm going on so I had to stay with him in a pull out bed one night. Tony, used this stuff on his beard, its green and smells like embalming fluid. Shaving 🪒 paste! I had to go and sleep at some dog house in the basement.
James said I could have his dressing room. A “Busman’s” room. One single bed. No frills! But across from the stage entrance . His room was the legendary tapestry room at the top of the hotel. It is a two-story room and the upper part is circular so you can see San Francisco at 360° view There is a spiral staircase to the level below and there is a grand piano, A 1912 Steinway concert grand that was still owned by Johnny Mathis who had a summer home in San Francisco but lived in Hollywood Hills. James said he was going up to unwind and prepair for the show. Ringo and Roy Orbison were coming. No security, no need! This crowd was not that way.
The show was pure 1968! High energy! Call and respond! EXPLOSIVE 🧨! The people were insane! After the third encore everybody went to their rooms. I went to the dressing room, and Mr. Brown changed and put it on his velvet jogging suit. I’m told me to make sure I had a good dinner and get a good nights sleep tomorrow they were going to Australia. I looked at the pink menu , it said Ladies on front. I noticed it HAD NO PRICES! The way it described the gently steamed 1 - 1/2 pound live main lobster 🦞 with blackbean sauce…. DAMN! I’m ON THAT BITCH! I called room service and ordered that plus some others. The lady said who shall I charge it to? “ just charge it to the room” my company has 23 rooms here at this hotel. It goes under the name of the James Brown review. If you have any questions at all, talk to the executive chef Carlo, he knows me and he will tell you its OK. This lobster was so huge it could have come on an ambulance cot! The waiter broke it up for me and put a nice bib on me! He presented the bill to me! $112.67 plus 20% tip, 10% room service fee and something else. This was 1985! About $400 today! I had so much left over! I got some small ziplock bags and flew home. About 12 days later I was back in Augusta, rehearsal was at the imperial theater. I walked in and hoped I would not be recognized but the first thing that came out of Mr. Brown’s mouth was that Big Smile! And “Mr. Cox! How you doing! How you like that Lobster brother! Sho tore that red boy UP! “I raised my hand. It had $200 in it! He counted it off “What time it is?” Cold 🥶 sweat! “ HIT IT!
two 100 bills in it!
Pleeeeeeeeease do this! Incredible!!!
Jimmy Nolen. Unsung MASTER of the funk.
Thanks, and whilst I agree, I can't help but feel he is a lot more recognised and celebrated than many of his colleagues. :(
As a James Brown tribute artist, I absolutely love this and chapter 1! Looking forward to chapter 3!
Thanks so much, Jay!
I'm glad you gave lots of space to my two favourite JB guitarists - Catfish and Cheese. I think that Catfish has been grossly underrated and wrongly overshadowed by his younger brother Bootsie. Perhaps in part because George Clinton never gave him the space and recognition he deserved. He is reported to have said that his favourite guitar style was "James Brown guitar" but only got to playit on Lighthouse. Before Cheese joined he was alternating chord and single note parts to compensate for the lack of two guitarists. Cheese is my ultimate hero. As you complemented his rhythm on your Hot pants segment, there really is something about his rhythm that makes him very distinct and very hip. Is it on Payback that he plays an "extended clave" - i.e. 3/4 beat intervals right through the bar. But with magnificent feel. If I was only allowed to say that one guitarist had "touch" it would be Cheese, and I am glad to have a space to express my hero worship. I know you talked about (in part 1) 16th note swing, but I have a suspicion that what really makes funk is what I call "microswing". What I mean by that is that rather than the up and down continuous pick movement of the JB guitar style being dead even, the upstroke is very slightly late. This varies between guitarists, and I think that Cheese was spot on. I learned this when we were auditioning guitarists and there was a guy (Tony) who was great for everrything until we played some funk , when his playing was as dead as a Dodo. He explained that he had spent years trying to get the up and down strokes even, and I explained that it was a wasted effort. So, if you wanted to play JB style funk guitar, don't make your up and down strokes even - play something that feels funky!
Sensational comment, Andy! I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion on Cheese and how his particular degree of 'microswing' appeals to, well, at least you and I. Everything I heard whilst researching this clip had me thinking Cheese was the greatest funk guitarist of all time.
Funny thing is, we all dedicate so much time and effort to playing as cleanly and accurately as we can, but when it comes to the greatest FEELING music, every band member seems to be swinging by a different percentage. But, each of these guys stayed true to their groove. They weren't swaggering and staggering all over the rhythm like an inexperienced kid. Plus, I guess these discrepancies are in response to what they are hearing in the room.
Endless fodder for discussion!
Thanks, mate.
Though not a player myself but a life long fan I’ve really, really enjoyed these, so thorough and enthusiastic! Its great of you to give all these incredible musicians their props and to keep their memories alive. I’ve watched all of your Prince and Tom Waits profiles too as I’m a huge fan of both also. Thanks for all of the info, insights and all your hard work. Your playing and feel for the funk is unsurpassed and you cover just about all of the licks that have driven me crazy for years!
What a great comment! Thanks SO much, Shaun. Can't tell you how it means to hear feedback like this once in a while.
Finally! A part 2! was just about to ask on the Part 1 video and here it is!
I appreciate your patience, Jordan! Thanks for checking it out, mate.
appreciate the amount of dedication and patience it must've taken on your part to have put this together too.@@dannyeddyguitar
Fantastic presentation on the JB Funk guitarists of the 70s!
Thanks - those dudes need their dues!
Thank you for this one!!!
Love all the details and I’m a big fan of Catfish and his huge contribution to The Funk. ONTHA1
Thanks, Ishan. So glad you enjoyed!
Funky as hell! See you in chapter 3!
Thank you, Stansilav!
Wow!!! Well done Sir!!! Learned alot from this post.👍👍👍👍
Glad to hear it, Dennis!
I've been playing guitar for nearly 30 years and funk is so hard to pull off tastefully imo , great to get some history and tips 👍
I totally agree! I mean, any style is difficult to master, but it seems that many people think funk is about specific chords, scales, tones or instruments, when in reality it's none of those things.
Txs4 helping me understand myself ...J.B is the Truth and so are YOU ⚠️👑 BLUE'S KING ⚠️
Thanks kindly, Larry!
@@dannyeddyguitar your some kind of MONSTER ain't YA!
it'd be sick if there was a playlist to accompany this!
13:10 My uncle Hearlon "Cheese " Martin thank you!!!. I was waiting for that he was one of James Browns favorite guitarist I know this personally. I have stories. He wanted to highlight him like he did Fred and Maceo. But something prevented it long story. Drinking that's all I got to say. 🤷🏾♂️
Wow!! Thanks for watching, Bernard. I'd love to hear some stories if you want to share! Hit me up at djangobillion@hotmail.com
Can you inform me where your uncle was born? I've always wanted to know where Cheese was born I just assumed it was from the south like the majority of the JB's Brown's 1970s band.
Man, you know JB, The Godfather, more than anybody! Go on! Keep on!
Thanks so much, Marvin!
I always wished the LPs had more credits but you’ve done gods work here my man ! Love JB ever since I was a kid , funk on brother
Thanks so much, Steve. Yeah, it's a crime that everything wasn't credited properly!
@@dannyeddyguitarreally cool to know bobby roach playing that wicked solo on dirty harri - such a great jam , I first heard it on black Caesar and was floored when I heard it stretched out on Good foot , as the black Caesar version is cut down to under 2 minutes
Ain't watched this yet, but I'm so looking forward to it 👍🏼
Thanks!! I hope it passes muster!
@@dannyeddyguitar It sure did, some great images and research, the Bobby Roach interview was an amazing exclusive, I hope he gets his book completed, James Brown circa 1957 needs to be documented before it is lost forever. So James Brown had two guitarists called Sam Brown, the one featured above and the guy who always wore shades and featured on the Tami Show. The Nothing But Funk LP series are bootlegs and the session info is 'invented'. Disco Baby was re-released called Hustling and was no longer credited to Hugo & Luigi, rather James Brown, go figure😄
Amazing! You always have some gold to share! Yes, Bobby was lovely to speak with and has such great recollection of events.
I figured that Nothing But Funk series might've been dubious, considering that I couldn't find anything else to correlate. But that Disco Baby track definitely sounds like the JBs of that era.
I stumbled upon part 1 yesterday by accident. Just finished part 2. Danny Eddy deserves the youtube version of a Pulitzer prize for this.
Thanks so, so much! Chapter Three is progressing... Slowlyyyyy
Again Danny, well done. Your research is amazing, blew me away. How do you dig up such intimate knowledge, hat's off... I know that you will putting out Chapter 3 of this wonderful story, one day (soon!). Fine guitar playin', too. Cheers!
Wow, thank you! Yes, I'm chipping away at chapter three...
I watched both parts of your delightful material, and I will say that I have not seen anything like this on RUclips on the topic, not just funk music, but music in general, except perhaps those who review the biography of the Beatles! but neither in the first nor in the second part I did not find a mention of one of the funkiest songs in James Brown’s discography, with one of the funkiest guitar riffs, I’m talking about the composition “blind man can see it”, or maybe I missed it...
Thanks again, and my apologies for that omission! Yes, it is another great example of Nolen and Martin. There are just so many I could've included!
What a wonderful job! I'm glad I ran into your channel 👏
Thanks for coming, Louie!
It would be great to have a spotify playlist of the songs. Thank you for this video!
Good one Danny ...loving your channel ...I am learning a lot from the young man in the guitar shop....you have come a long long way
awwwww! Thanks Michelle! xx
Great class. Great lecture. You're a serious man as researcher. Thanks a lot
Thanks, Michele!
Man……..this is a great documentary about the guys who put the one on Mr Dynamite’s music
Thanks so much, Jerry.
Man……thank you cause for 1 I’m a big Mr Dynamite and the mighty JB’s especially the late 60s-the early 70s material so much information I enjoyed of what you been sharing about this man’s music and the kool cats who were apart of it in a major way respect to you ✌🏿🎼🎶🎤💯
Astonishing research and analysis-one tiny error: the segment where JB sends Bobby Byrd to Cincinnati there’s a quick pic of what’s supposed to be Byrd but in fact it’s Roosevelt Johnson who hooked up with GFOS in the 90s. I think you are a genius in culling out the guitar work on so many recordings-you help JB fans understand funk like no other person I know.
Thanks so much, Peter. Yes, unfortunately I thought that was a pic of Bobby in his later years. Oh well.
Actually, RJ was with Mr. Brown for decades, but he really didn’t do anything on the stage until the 90s.
Never been into jb but maye time for a rethink
Your research is beyod compare....so many powerful players i never heard of....re defines funk
Congratulations on this video
Thanks so much, Rodger! Very kind words, and I'm really happy to have reached you.
This is amazing
Thanks heaps, Stefan!
11:37 Let The Music Take Your Mind by Kool & The Gang
Wow!! So it is!
Nile Rodgers played the guitar 🎸 on Duran Duran’s song and album “ Notorious “… even though Andy Taylor is a great guitarist in his only right!!!! I’m pretty sure he was definitely influenced by James Brown and the likes of Nile Rodgers funky guitar 🎸!!!! Thanks 🙏 for this great and interesting video!
So he did!! I completely forgot about that aspect. Any wonder it's so damn funky.
@@dannyeddyguitar yes 🙌🏿 indeed very FUNKY!!!
This is a great video!! We’ll done mate.
Thanks, Matt! Really appreciate you
Great job! Nice vid!
Thanks for showing your appreciation!
Danny Eddy : This is a great and informative video!
I have some questions about JB's guitar work that wasn't credited
and type of guitar tones used by JB guitarists.
How can I get a hold of you to discuss some of this stuff?
Great work as always.
Thanks Mr. Bombay. Hit me up at djangobillion@hotmail.com
This Is Good MAN !!!
So glad you liked it!
Great video but at 7:32 that is NOT Bobby Byrd. That is R.J.
Dammit! I just thought it was an older Bobby Byrd, lol.
@@dannyeddyguitar Roosevelt Johnson. He actually took over Bobby Byrd’s part on SEX MACHINE on stage in the last years. He was with Mr. Brown for decades in various capacities. Love your video! And also the 1st video! Mr. Brown has been my all-time favorite artist since I was 12 years old in 1968. I saw him over 100 times in concert, I have all his albums and 45s. I met him a few times and all that good stuff. But the stuff that you rattled off there is absolutely amazing!! I didn’t know most of it to be honest. It’s always good to learn new things about Mr. Brown!
You Should Do The Guitarists Of Funkadelic Next.
Looooooong list!
James re-hashed his own music more than Berry Gordy did for his at Motown with different artists...
He sure did!!
I was hoping to see the name of my Mother's classmate, But as of right now I can't remember his name. He was living in Gastonia NC.
Oh! Which album/s did they play on? Or which era?
JB himself played 8 instruments including keyboard, guitar and drums.
Thanks, Nicky. Such an interesting dude!
No just keyboard (Organ)
Nice video !!!
Thanks, Jonas - great to hear from you!
part 3 please.
Ohhhh, it's coming, Amador, it's comin...
I live in Cincinnati. I used to know Clayton "chicken " gunnells. Sad how many people here know nothing about king records
Wow! That's very cool. And yes, also very sad that so many locals don't know that rich history. It seems that these days, if something can't be monetised in a quick side hustle, it just isn't worth knowing. :(
SRV on Living in America...🔥
Indeed!
Jimmy Nolen owned 2 Guitars after playing on 16 albums and touring with James Brown. Not out of choice but all that James N could afford. I am sure this meanness by James Brown extended to the other sidemen. Brown should have recorded an album called "It,s a "Mean Mean World" or "Mean Machine"
Disgusting, isn't it. :(
It sure is...James Brown,s talent has taken a dive as I can now see just how much he owed his sidemen...It was mainly the guitarists I listened to .Cheers @@dannyeddyguitar
I read that when Jimmy Nolen died his widow gave James a letter he had wrote telling him what he really thought of him.
A very petty man even though
I love his music and him as a performer 😢
The Hustlers project, not sure if that was the JBs (i.e. the usual backing band) or the NYC session guys that James would use, like he did on Funky President. The give away is usually the absence of Fred Wesley's trombone, and the horns are a lot more polished. Also, James had titled Disco Baby as Hustling, but after getting sued (or threatened), he changed it back to Disco Baby. Probably the last time he ripped off a song (Fame / Hot was around that time too)
Interesting stuff, for sure!
I can never find out where Hearlon "Cheese" Martin is from. I just assume he's from the south like the majority of James Brown's band mates.
Hi Ramses. Cheese was from La Grange, North Carolina.
@@dannyeddyguitarthank you.👌🏽
😎
The two funkiest guitars players that played with the JAMES BROWN BAND were JIMMY NOLAND AND ALFONSO KELLUM. They were the creators of that style. They were so tight that at times it sounded as if there was only one guitarist in the song. Those two were FIRST AND FOREMOST !!!! Because of what those two created in the very beginning of the James Brown Sound, All other guitarist that played with James after those two departed from the unit had NO CHOICE but try to get as close as they could to the style that JIMMY AND ALFONSO CREATED. After THE JAMES BROWN BAND was done NO OTHER group of players could equal are come close to the FUNK THE JAMES BROWN BAND CREATED. Not the JBs, not the Soul Generals , not ANY other unit that backed James. I am not putting anyone down, but I hold THE JAMES BROWN BAND higher and above all bands and musicians that backed James afterwards. THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.
Thanks, Randy. A tough point to dispute.
@randypross7268 DO NOT ignore TOP ... !!! or ...Defunkt
🦅🦾🦾🦾🤩👊
Cheers, G!
Same dominant genius of unresolve found in the track Funk On a Roll - the best version seems to be Letterman show IMO - a total knockout
I can't find that performance. Do you have a link?
I bet I have it in my channel playlist - let's see - btw yours is 300-level stuff, I stand amazed as longtime JB idolozer
Ok guess what dear DE - very likely CBS got YT to yank this Letterman clip from 99 - it is not even in my playlist saves!
Anyway imagine my shock, to be sitting in front of the TV, unsuspecting, and 31 years after my Christmas 1968 absorption of Live At the Garden, as James appeared with a fresh & spine-tingling syncopation
I would rate the tune about equal to Licking Stick which came onto AM radio here In Halifax, in a string of There Was A Time and I Got The Feelin) starting in January 68 - neither CHNS nor the more liberal CJCH had touched Cold Seat or Poppa's Gt a Brand New Bag.
AS the owner of a James Brown LP I Turned 12 in January 1969 with the feeling I was in on a secret known to only the coolest adults.
PS the Vegas DVD version is lacking - likewise the Eoodstock 99 - like te studio version - so sadly that's it.
Shame. I love this one though, with Hiram Bullock and the immortal Steve Jordan!
ruclips.net/video/V4m_dv5Z7hg/видео.html
I was with you 100% until you called Steely Dan yacht rock
Haha! Thanks Rusty. It's a hilarious term. Love Steely Dan!
@ I should have also mentioned that this is without a doubt the best-researched video I have ever watched. When I stumbled across the title I couldn’t believe my eyes. A video on James’ guitarists?? YES! I’ve played guitar for over 40 years, and the rhythm guitars of James Brown have always been my favorite thing. When my peers would talk about their favorite players and influences, most of course would say Hendrix, Page, Beck etc… but I always said Jimmy Nolen and Catfish Collins (and Teenie Hodges, Al Green’s guitarist/songwriter.) Thank you so much for this fantastic research and detailed breakdown in sessions and who played what. This could be a dissertation for a PhD in funk. I’m a subscriber now. Great stuff.
That's awesome, thanks so much!
I came to JB via Fishbome (via RHCP). And soon realised that the shredding of Ratt and Dokken paled into insignificance in the face of a groove that a crowd cannot resist!
@ I grew up up hearing JB, but didn’t really appreciate it until I was in high school and got heavily into Parliament-Funkadelic, and realized what George was doing came from James Brown. A lot of people may not realize that P-Funk’s whole sound changed when Bootsy, Catfish, Maceo and Fred came in. It was Catfish who brought the rhythm guitar using a lot of 9th chords. Btw I love Fishbone. Saw them open for P-Funk at an outdoor festival here in Memphis, and also saw them at a small club here and it was crazy. This was around 96, with all original members of Fishbone.
@@rustypugh123 Yeah!!! They came to Australia Feb 1992 and it remains one of the greatest shows I've ever witnessed!