James Brown

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Bassist Bootsy Collins performs at PNC Music Pavilion on July 22, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Bootsy Collins is one of the all-time bass greats, but he started out on guitar. Here’s the sole reason why he switched

By Janelle Borg Published

Before he became ‘the’ Bootsy Collins, William Collins was a young guitarist who desperately wanted to join his brother's band

Bassists
James Brown 1971 during James Brown File Photos in London, United Kingdom.
The bassists of James Brown reveal what life was really like playing alongside the Godfather of Soul

By Jim Roberts Published

Fred Thomas, Ray Brundidge and Bootsy Collins dig into what it meant to play with Soul Band No. 1

Bassists
American soul singer and songwriter James Brown (1933-2006) performs live on stage with the J.B.'s, including bass guitarist Bootsy Collins on left and guitarist Catfish Collins (1943-2010) behind on right, in East Ham, London in March 1971.
How a young Bootsy Collins took the James Brown bass chair to its busiest level on this Bootsy-fied recut from 1970’s Sex Machine

By Chris Jisi Published

The first version of the song was recorded in October 1968 with Charles ‘Sweets’ Sherrell on bass

Bassists
Left- Carlos Alomar at club Le Bar Bat on October 1993 in New York City; Right-Rock and roll musician Chuck Berry poses for a portrait holding a Gibson hollowbody electric guitar in a scene from the movie "Go Johnny Go" which was released in June of 1959 in Los Angeles, California
Session great Carlos Alomar on his time as Chuck Berry’s rhythm guitarist

By Janelle Borg Published

Alomar also recalls his tour with James Brown and the time the King of Soul yelled ‘Hit me!’ – and he didn’t hit back

Guitarists
Bassist Bootsy Collins performs at PNC Music Pavilion on July 22, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina
If you play funk, you owe Bootsy Collins – the bass legend who played with James Brown

By Joel McIver Published

Bootsy Collins is a legend not just for his interstellar bass playing, but also for his star-shaped bass guitars

Bassists
Jimmy Nolen
The unsung guitarist who transformed James Brown’s music, and laid a funky path for Nile Rodgers, John Frusciante, Cory Wong and countless others

By Jackson Maxwell Published

Overshadowed by the flamboyant frontman for whom he worked, Jimmy Nolen created a singular rhythm style that can still be heard all over pop and rock radio today

Guitarists
Photos of Francis Rocco PRESTIA & Josh Smith
“Rocco Prestia could have held that 16th-note pattern in his sleep – it’s airtight” Halestorm bassist Josh Smith picks his top 5 bass albums

By Nick Wells Published

From Tower Of Power to The Beatles, Josh Smith reveals the influences that helped shape his heavy-riffing bass style with Halestorm

Music Releases
Musician James Brown performs on stage at the Miller Rock Thru Time Celebrating 50 Years of Rock Concert at Roseland September 17, 2004 in New York City.
When TM Stevens met James Brown: “I said, ‘One day I'm going to play with you!’ He said, ‘Don't do it! Stay in school!’”

By Nick Wells Published

TM Stevens on meeting the Godfather of Soul and the bass players that helped shape his sound

Bassists
American soul singer and songwriter James Brown (1933-2006) performs live on stage with the J.B.'s, including guitarist Catfish Collins (1943-2010) behind, in East Ham, London in March 1971.
11 ways to invigorate your funk rhythm chops

By Steve Allsworth Published

This James Brown-inspired workout is not just for funk – all rhythm players can learn from these techniques and approaches

Lessons
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Country-Funk—What Hank Williams and James Brown have in Common

By Keith Wyatt Published

A lesson in the two-beat “boom-chick” style of rhythm playing.

Artists
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