James Brown is one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. A prolific signer, writer and performer he has been called 'The hardest working man in show business'. His career started in the 50s and reached its peak in the early 60s with top 10 hits such as 1965s "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)". As the 60s progressed his music came to define the foundations of funk with songs such as 1965s number 1 'Cold Sweat'. Further numerous hits including 'Sex Machine', 'Mr. Dynamite', 'I Feel Good' and 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' cemented his seminal role as 'The Godfather of Soul'. Brown was an indefatigable tourer performing as much as 300 intense shows in a year throughout his career. In the 70s in particular he was also renowned for his role as a social activist, famously performing on a show live in Boston the day after Martin Luther King's murder, allegedly preventing rioting across the city. He died in 2006. less