James Brown was driven and unapologetically Black, according to his friends and family.
The upcoming A&E documentary series James Brown: Say It Loud will look back at the Grammy-winning singer’s life and cultural impact.
A&E released the trailer for the docuseries on Thursday. The preview includes interviews with some of Brown’s children, music industry insiders, cultural commentators, and executive producers Mick Jagger and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson.
“I loved that two things that he brought to the table were two taboo words — funk and Black,” Questlove says.
“My dad was hard, he wasn’t soft,” one of Brown’s daughters adds.
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After growing up in the Jim Crow-era South, Brown channeled his frustration over racism into music.
“He really believed that he could do things and overcome things. He marched to the beat of his own drum, literally,” Rev. Al Sharpton says in the preview.
Across four hours, the series will trace the complicated life of “the godfather of soul,” from a 7th grade drop-out to an entertainment legend and cultural force.
According to the official description, the series will show how the South Carolina native “persevered through decades of personal demons, racial injustice, and career setbacks to find redemption and become one of, if not the, most celebrated and influential artists of the 20th century.”
The two-night event features never-before-seen archival interviews and performance video, plus new interviews with Brown’s children Deanna, Yamma and Larry Brown; his friends; and protégés including Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
The project is directed by Deborah Riley Draper (The Legacy of Black Wall Street).
In addition to Mick Jagger and Questlove, executive producers include Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, and Charlie Cohen.
A&E describes the series as the “definitive look at a complicated life.”
James Brown: Say it Loud premieres Monday, Feb. 19 and Tuesday, February 20 at 8PM ET/PT on A&E.
Watch the trailer below:
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