| James Brown and Joe Tex; Two powerhouses of | | | | exhibited on stage. Not that it really mattered |
| the R&B Soul Music World, both from the deep | | | | because they both had different styles and |
| south. James Brown, from Macon, Ga. and Joe | | | | showmanship. There is a clip of Joe Tex |
| Tex (real name Joseph Arrington Jr.) from where | | | | performing on the 20th Annual Grammy Awards |
| else of course, Texas. They were both | | | | in 1978 on YouTube. I remember seeing it on TV |
| labelmates in the 50s on KING records. Joe Tex | | | | and his performance was nothing short of |
| had his first hit with "HOLD WHAT YOU'VE GOT" | | | | AWESOME! |
| in 1964. One of JB's early singles, 1960's "BABY | | | | As much as I enjoyed the dancers also, I thought |
| YOU'RE RIGHT" was originally written and | | | | it distracted from Joe,s mic-twirling, soul act (even |
| released by Joe Tex earlier on the ANNA label. | | | | seeing it I still couldn't believe someone could |
| James'version charted at #2 R&B/#49 Pop while | | | | actually rock the mic like THAT). There are also |
| Joe,s version didn't hit the charts. | | | | clips on YouTube of a live concert recorded in |
| A rivalry soon erupted between the two when JB | | | | 1968 in Sweden called, "THE JOE TEX SHOW" , |
| reportedly took Tex's wife singer Bea Ford, who | | | | featuring the artist in his prime along with his |
| can be heard on the JB single "YOU'VE GOT THE | | | | touring band. It's available on DVD but a little hard |
| POWER". Apparently James wrote Joe a letter | | | | to find. Check to find out who downloaded the |
| telling him he could have Bea back. By this time | | | | clips and then ask if they have or know where |
| Joe had found a new woman and responded with | | | | the dvd can be obtained. |
| the 1963 single, "YOU KEEP HER" which didn't | | | | Hopefully Spike Lee will still do the JB biopic |
| chart either. Not long after the landmark album | | | | because I think he is one of the few directors |
| "LIVE AT THE APOLLO" was released in 1963, | | | | that could truthfully portray an enigma like James |
| James Brown returned to Macon to play a | | | | Brown. Hopefully it should be a 3 hour epic like the |
| homecoming concert at the City Auditorium with | | | | Malcolm X story to be done right. I have never |
| Joe Tex. | | | | been a big fan of Usher, but given his respect and |
| The "Clown Prince of Soul" (as Joe Tex was | | | | love for the Godfather of Soul and having had |
| becoming known) could imitate anyone he wanted | | | | previous acting experience, I feel he could do an |
| and came out on the stage with a raggedy cape | | | | incredible job. If Usher doesn't get this role, get an |
| with a hole in it. He fell to his knees and all of a | | | | unknown who has done some theater and |
| sudden, grabbed his back. He stated singing | | | | somewhat resembles Mr. Brown. |
| 'Please, Please, Please--GET ME OUT OF THIS | | | | James Brown's life story should be put on the |
| CAPE!" Here it was James Brown's homecoming | | | | screen for his final due. Elvis, the Beatles, Ray |
| concert and Joe Tex was making a mockery of | | | | Charles, have had their life stories grace the silver |
| him. Mind you, James Brown was not the least | | | | screen (the former two multiple movies and TV |
| amused by his fellow performer's antics! | | | | shows) and it's way past time to give this man |
| Later that night he found out that Joe went to a | | | | his due also. I enjoy listening to the "STEVE |
| club where a band featuring a young Otis Redding | | | | HARVEY MORNING SHOW" and the "MICHAEL |
| was performing. Walking in with a shotgun in hand, | | | | BASDEN SHOW" in the afternoon, but neither |
| Brown started exchanging fire with someone | | | | hardly play any music by these two R&B legends. |
| across the room. They kept shooting and | | | | Musical styles change (disco, rap, etc.) but the |
| reloading, either not hitting the other. Several | | | | roots are old school music which we should never |
| people were shot in the melee while Joe Tex ran | | | | forget. |
| outside the club and hid behind trees and bushes. | | | | So what's truth and what's fiction? Your guess is |
| James ran outside and his tour bus pulled out of | | | | as good as mine but given the volatile nature of |
| the parking lot with him behind the wheel. Not long | | | | the Hardest Working Man In Show Business, it is |
| after, someone gave each of the injured patrons | | | | very likely that the infamous "club shootout" was |
| $100 each and the whole thing was quieted down. | | | | accurate. It's a miracle both of them survived the |
| Reportedly Joe Tex had "SOUL BROTHER #1" | | | | incident(?) and went on to bigger heights in the |
| painted on his tour bus until James got wind of it | | | | business. I really shudder to think what course |
| and it was removed. Then there was the question | | | | soul music would have taken without their input. |
| of who really invented the acrobatic microphone | | | | May they both rest in peace. |
| tricks that both performers mastered and | | | | |