FIRST IMPRESSION OF "GET ON UP" TRAILER

Hello again JB fans!


I would like to say that I,m very excited that we have a JB bio movie at last!  The cast and crew look good and hopefully this movie will be on a par with "RAY". 


 I,m not completely sold on Boseman as JB but I think he is going to pull off a nearly impossible job as the Godfather Of Soul.  One of my concerns is a few liberties, listed below,  that they are taking in the movie, judging by the trailer;

• JB was around 5'7 or so; Boseman is much taller (he almost towers over actor playing Bobby Byrd)  
•  
• One scene with Bootsy and the JBs - the drum sets are too far apart  (on stage they were closer together). 
•  
• Vietnam scene with JB complaining to the officer- I could be wrong but I didn,t see Tim Drummond anywhere ( he was the first white member of the late 60,s band, playing bass guitar, and went with JB to play in Vietnam). WHOOPS! I was wrong! He was in that particular segment as well at the Boston Gardens scene.
•  
• JB shooting the shotgun by accident at the insurance seminar( the shotgun didn,t go off because it wouldn,t work).
  

 I realize that movies take certain liberties with scripts and change some things, but just as long as they stay true to the spirit of JB, then it will be ok.

The Jacksons TV movie had Randy  almost grown when he officially joined the group, when in real life, he was a little boy who was excellent on playing congas.

 I want this movie to do really well and hopefully see other movies or documentaries on Mr. Brown,s life. As for some people saying that they have seen this story time and again, no they haven,t!


JB,s story is one of a kind and is unique and thank God, it will finally be seen on screen, for better or worse!

JB BIOPIC TO START FILMING THIS MONTH

 

 

 

 

 I,m sure that most of you know by now that the upcoming movie about the Godfather Of Soul James Brown titled "GET ON UP", will start filming in Mississippi in November. 

  Director Tate Taylor(The Help)is set to take on the monumental task of putting the world famous icon on screen.

  Mick Jagger himself is one of the producers of the movie and it boast an impressive talented cast. Chadwick Boseman the star of the Jackie Robinson movie (42) has signed on as JB himself.

The rest of the cast so far includes;

Aunt Honey.....................................................................Octavia Spencer

Susie Brown....................................................................Viola Davis 

Ben Bart..........................................................................Dan Ackroyd

Deidre "Dee Dee" Jenkins...............................................Jill Scott

Bobby Byrd.....................................................................Nelsan Ellis

Syd Nathan......................................................................Fred Melamed

Maceo Parker...................................................................Craig Robinson 

Catfish Collins.................................................................David Carzell 

Bootsy Collins.................................................................Justin Hall 

Clyde Subblefield............................................................Rob Demery

Tika Sumpter...................................................................Yvonne Fair

Joeseph "Joe" James (JB,s father)..................................Lennie James

Julius Tennon.................................................................Grandpa Byrd



Tariq Trotter....................................................................Pee Wee Ellis

Jamell Richardson...........................................................Jimmy Nolen

Brandon Smith.................................................................Little Richard



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  Im sure other cast members will be announced like the actors portraying Fred Wesley( his musical director and trombonist off and on in the 70s) and announcer Danny Ray ( who was the cape man for around 50 years).

  With this array of talent, I think that this movie will be on a par with "RAY". Do I have reservations? Well, of course I do! Im sure that Boseman will most likely lip-synch (no problem there) but what about JB,s frenetic dancing in his early career?

   Not crazy about the title right now( I would have called it one of Brown,s many well deserved monikers over the years; "MR. DYNAMITE", "GODFATHER OF SOUL", "SOUL BROTHER #1". Aside from my gripes( just thrilled at this after waiting so many years), I think it will be an amazing film.

   It will cover the period of  Brown,s life ranging from 5 yrs old to 1993 and hopefully be at least 2 hrs 20 min. long. There is a lot of history associated with Brown and maybe the most important aspects of his life, good and bad make it to the big screen.

  Personally, I would love to see a few things, like; how he made the band head to the recording studio after finishing a sell out performance. 

His dreaded "HORROR" rehearsals, his time performing in Vietnam,  his visits to the White House, his appearance at Elvis  Presley,s wake, his interaction with band and family members.

 His almost inhuman drive to be in control of every aspect of his career.  The toll performing took on his body (had to get an intravenous drip to build fluids back in his body after sweating so much onstage. 

  So get ready everyone because "GET ON UP", the James Brown story has started filmed and is due for release in the fall of next year. 

              I CAN HARDLY WAIT!

***********************UPDATE************************




A few more tidbits about the upcoming JB biopic, "GET ON UP"

* ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY has posted the first pic of
 Chaswick Boseman as James Brown 

* JB,s grandson, Jason Brown, is working on the film as a           production assistant.

* JB,s nephew, Darren Glenn, also is working with the film to help find entertainers to fill the roles of musicians. His father, Willie Glenn, was JB,s road manager for 40 years.

With a great array of talent working on this film, I have no doubts that it will deliver!  Come August 2014, if the Good Lord spares me, I will catch the FIRST showing in my town!    



*****************SUPER UPDATE********************

The VERY FIRST Trailer for the JB Biopic " GET ON UP"

IS HERE! 

IKE AND TINA TURNER: ON THE ROAD 1971-72 DVD

Get ready for a rare look into the lives of Ike and Tina Turner on stage and off at the peak of their career together!



 

   

This 90 minute documentary has intimate, behind-the-scenes look of the husband and wife entertainers, at work on stage and at home. 
Ike, the consummate professional, putting the Ikettes and the band,thru its paces in the studio in preparation for their amazing stage performances.

 Tina is seen burning up the stage as she churns out one of their many hits. 

Rare insight into Tina at home, life as a mother to their kids and in the studio, rehearsing songs and dance routines with the Ikettes.

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Their day to day travels on the road, by plane and car, waiting in motels and airports give a glimpse of what being an entertainer is not all a glamorous life.







Despite the footage, ranging from good to bad(almost all in black and white), this documentary is a must have for all the fans of Ike and Tina!

A fascinating look into their life and show!

There have been quite a few complaints about previous shows by old soul school artists released before, mainly the quality of the video.

This is not high definition quality footage because it has not been digitally remastered, but a great treat to watch and see one of the greatest duos in music history on stage and off.

So if you are a fan of Ike and Tina Turner, this will be a great addition to your music dvd collection!

SOUL SINGER MARVA WHITNEY HAS PASSED AWAY

One of James Brown,s  proteges in the late 60s, Ms. Marva Whitney, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24th.  JB gave her the nickname of "Soul Sister #1".

She was a powerhouse singer who gave her all on stage, performing with JB at the Boston Gardens concert (the day after Martin Luther King,s assassination) as well as volunteering to go with the James Brown Revue on a tour of Vietnam at wartime in 1968.


She left the revue and after two disappointing solo recordings, exited the music business. Marva returned in the late 80s, occasionally performing with former members of James Brown,s band.


She suffered a stroke in 2009 but returned to the stage in 2010, performing mainly in Europe and Japan.  Her long awaited book, "God, The Devil and James Brown" (working title) will hopefully be released in early 2013. She is gone but will never be forgotten.




 ***UPDATE***

Marva,s biography has FINALLY been released!  "God, The Devil And James Brown" is available on Amazon!

 



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Below is a customer review of the book ;

             *****5 out of 5 stars*****

 
SOUL SISTER # ONE LIVES ON!  
June 3, 2013

I've been a Marva Whitney fan since I heard her smash album "Live And Lowdown At The Apollo". She was funky before it was cool. She had a powerful raw voice, an amazing talent and drive which took her to the top.

My first meeting with her was occasioned by the J.B.'s All Stars reunion in London in July 1988 (where I was involved as a producer). She was friendly and funny.

On stage her vocal delivery was sweet when it needed to be, but utterly explosive when she got down with the Funk.
I've always loved Marva's music, but knew little about her life.

This book is very detailed in tracking the career of Ms. Manning and tells of the accolades as well as the low points in her career; well written and full of unknown information about the Godfather of Soul and his musicians.

He was a very complex man, but one of the greatest talents of Black music, and he was the first to realize her soulful talent.

Marva reveals how he tried to control her life as well as her career. This autobiography reveals her upbringing and her motivations, her ambitions and her disappointments, her happy days and dramatic ones.

She talks about her music, her personal life and troubles, her philosophy, and, what I think is most exciting, show business and stage performance.

You get the feeling that this is Soul Sister no. 1 telling you her extraordinary story in a long and fascinating conversation.
Charles Waring did a very detailed job and then put it all down for the reader to enjoy.

It's a very well-executed biography and an unbiased account of the legendary life and career of a funky diva. It is really sad to know that she missed seeing her book published but her soul will live on.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves Funk music and a must-have in any serious James Brown bibliography.

SPIKE LEE FIRED FROM JAMES BROWN BIOPIC

  




According to EBONY magazine and ROLLING OUT.COM,   Spike Lee has been fired as director of the upcoming JAMES BROWN movie.  

 Spike has always been my number one choice to directory JB,s story and while no explanation was given as of yet,  I hope that this film does well.
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The news that he is being replaced by the guy that directed "THE HELP" (who is white by the way)  is a little unsettling.

  Not the fact that he is white, but he doesn,t have much of a track record ( aside from the aftermentioned movie).  But everyone has to start somewhere and he just might turn out to be a GREAT director!

It,s not about the color folks! I believe that Spike would have done justice to the JAMES BROWN story; a prime example would be the film MALCOLM X.

I don,t care if the director is BLACK, WHITE, BLUE, GRAY or POLKADOT as long as the script and the cast is right.

Another way of looking at it is by hiring a white director the film won,t be looked at as being a BLACK FILM PROJECT only, gaining more universal and hopefully international attention.

About the new director, regardless of color,  I just want to see a GREAT film about Mr. Brown done.

Steven Spielberg did an EXCELLENT job with "THE COLOR PURPLE", delivering a powerful, emotional film that has and will always stand the test of time. 

  I wish Spike was still on board but let,s give this new guy a chance, along with our support and wish him the best!