James Brown is known by many names - The Godfather of Soul, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Soul Brother Number One, Mr. Dynamite, and The Original Disco Man, but his achievements speak for themselves.

2001
After forty years, James Brown continues to perform over 150 days per year.

James Brown acts in an action comedy called "Undercover Brother" released in June 2002. Other James Brown movie appearances include "The Blues Brothers" and "Rocky IV".

With over 114 entries on the Billboard R&B charts, James Brown continues to record and release albums and singles.

1997
House of Representatives authors a resolution commending James Brown as a "musical genius."

1993
James Brown receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards. In his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, James Brown is honored when the city renames Ninth Avenue to James Brown Boulevard.

1992
James Brown receives the lifetime achievement award at the 34th Grammy Awards.

1986
Mr. Brown is among the first group of performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He hits #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Living in America”, the theme song to Rocky IV.

1984
James Brown records “Unity” with rapper Afrika Bambaataa.

1980
James Brown appears in the “The Blues Brothers” movie.

1979
James Brown releases "The Original Disco Man."

1974
James Brown releases “Payback”, a gold-certified album with over 500,000 sold.

1972
The release of “Get on the Good Foot” firmly roots James Brown as a legend among R&B musicians. The gold album topped the R&B charts for more than one month and hit #18 on the Top Forty.

1971
James Brown signs with Polydor Records and releases "Hot Pants", which reaches #15.

1970
James Brown continues to roll out the funk at the top of the Seventies with "Sex Machine" at #15 and “Ain’t it Funky (Part I)” at #24.

1969
James Brown tops the charts with "Mother Popcorn" at #11, "The Popcorn" at #30 and "Give it up or Turn it Loose" at #15.

1968
James Brown dominates the charts with two hits - "I Got The Feelin'" at #6 and "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" at #10.

1967
"Cold Sweat" tops that charts at #7.

1966
The hits keep coming with "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" at #8.

1965
James Brown records "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" - the song that introduced the world to the revolutionary sound of funk - stays at #1 on the R&B charts for eight weeks. "I Got You (I Feel Good)" reaches #3.

1964
James Brown is featured in the concert film "The Tami Show" with Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and the Supremes.

1962
James Brown records his "Live at the Apollo" album in Harlem. The album reaches #2 and sells a million copies, the largest amount ever sold for a black music album at the time.

1958
James Brown's first hit, "Try Me" is the best-selling single of 1958, the first of 17 number one singles to be released over the next four decades.

1957
After Little Richard retires from rock and roll, members of Little Richard's band join with James Brown to form the Famous Flames

1957
In 1956, James Brown launches a legendary Rhythm and Blues music career that spans over four decades. Working with his band, The Flames, James Brown released his first hit single, "Please, Please, Please." Signed under the Federal recording label, the song sold over one million copies and climbed to #6 on the R&B charts. His electrically charged performances began earning him comparisons to that of another famous entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr.