Chuck Brown, also known as "The Godfather of Go-Go," was an American musician and bandleader. Born in 1936 in North Carolina, Brown grew up in Washington, D.C., where he became a prominent figure in the local music scene. He is credited with pioneering the genre of go-go music, which combines elements of funk, R&B, and soul. Brown's musical journey began in his teenage years when he learned to play the guitar and became influenced by the sounds of jazz and blues.
“The one’s people will know — it opens with ‘Let the Good Times Roll,’ ‘Fever,’ everyone knows. When asked what his favorite song on the album was, Chuck Brown said it was ‘God Bless the Child,’ the Billie Holiday song that Eva Cassidy sings, and the one that almost everyone knows from Eva is ‘Over the Rainbow.'”
When asked what his favorite song on the album was, Chuck Brown said it was God Bless the Child, the Billie Holiday song that Eva Cassidy sings, and the one that almost everyone knows from Eva is Over the Rainbow. Known as the Godfather of Go-Go, the performer, singer, guitarist and songwriter developed his commanding brand of funk in the mid-1970s to compete with the dominance of disco.
Brown's musical journey began in his teenage years when he learned to play the guitar and became influenced by the sounds of jazz and blues. He formed his first band, The Soul Searchers, in the 1960s and started playing in local clubs and venues. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that Brown truly made his mark with the creation of go-go music.
‘Chuck & Eva’ pays tribute to Chuck Brown, Eva Cassidy with DC, Baltimore concerts
The INseries Opera performing arts group is paying a special tribute to a pair of D.C.-area music legends for three nights in D.C. and Baltimore.
toggle audio on and off change volume WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Chuck & Eva' (Part 1)Few artists are bigger D.C.-area music legends than the late Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy, with Brown dubbed “The Godfather of Go-Go” in D.C. and Cassidy the pride of Prince George’s County, Maryland for her jazz chops.
This month, the area performing arts group IN Series Opera performs “Chuck & Eva,” a special tribute performance of Brown and Cassidy’s beloved duet album “The Other Side” (1992) for three nights in D.C. and Baltimore.
“Chuck Brown and Eva Cassidy met in 1986,” Artistic Director Tim Nelson told WTOP.
“She was an unknown singer with her own band. … Her bass player played a recording for Chuck Brown, who instantly fell in love with her voice. They became unlikely friends, he was 29 years older. … Together they put together this collaboration which has no go-go on it. It’s all American songbook, traditional jazz duets between the two of them.”
Jazz pianist and composer Janelle Gill will lead an “amazing celebration and exultation of D.C. music,” featuring a talented ensemble of area performers, including vocalists Greg Watkins and Melissa Wimbish. Gill is a product of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and previously collaborated with INseries on a Nina Simone tribute.
“Eva Cassidy’s voice and Chuck Brown’s voice and musical prowess are irreplaceable, there’s no way we could recreate the album, so that’s not what we’re doing,” Nelson said.
“What we’re doing is the same songs on the album being reinterpreted by living D.C. jazz artists, some of whom played with Chuck Brown’s band, some who are quite young, but all artists who have been inspired by the legacy of both of these incredible DMV artists.”
The set list includes the entire 14 tracks from the album “The Other Side,” albeit in a slightly different order as INseries hopes to create a unique experience.
“It is a lot of iconic songs, and then it is a lot of jazz standards that are not so standard that people may not know,” Nelson said.
“The one’s people will know — it opens with ‘Let the Good Times Roll,’ ‘Fever,’ everyone knows. When asked what his favorite song on the album was, Chuck Brown said it was ‘God Bless the Child,’ the Billie Holiday song that Eva Cassidy sings, and the one that almost everyone knows from Eva is ‘Over the Rainbow.'”
Concerts will be held Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2 at the True Reformer Building on U Street in Northwest D.C., followed by another concert June 24 at the Baltimore Theatre Project on West Preston Street in Baltimore.
“In D.C. it’s significant that we’re doing it at the True Reformer Building because that is one of Black Broadway’s most historic buildings,” Nelson said.
“It was the first Black-designed, owned and financed building in America, but it was also the first building where Duke Ellington performed publicly. … Baltimore Theatre Project is one of the most historic theaters in America. … In the ’60s and ’70s it was America’s most important avant-garde theater.”
Founded 40 years ago, IN Series Opera aims to transcend the opera realm to includes all genres of performance.
“We’re an opera company that hates the word ‘opera,'” Nelson said. “We’re disrupting opera, we love to tear it apart, we love to include other musical traditions, we’re hyper local, which is another reason we wanted to do something connected to D.C. music. Whatever people think of when they hear the word ‘opera,’ we’re not that.”
“We’re an opera company that hates the word ‘opera,'” Nelson said. “We’re disrupting opera, we love to tear it apart, we love to include other musical traditions, we’re hyper local, which is another reason we wanted to do something connected to D.C. music. Whatever people think of when they hear the word ‘opera,’ we’re not that.”
Go-go music is characterized by its syncopated rhythms, percussion-heavy instrumentation, and call-and-response vocal style. It gained popularity in the Washington, D.C. area and became a unique cultural phenomenon. Brown's energetic live performances and infectious rhythms made him a beloved figure in the community. His signature hit "Bustin' Loose" became an anthem for the city and remains one of the most recognizable go-go songs to this day. Throughout his career, Chuck Brown collaborated with various artists and released numerous albums. He continued to perform and record music well into his later years, maintaining a devoted fan base and influencing generations of musicians. His contribution to the music world and his impact on the go-go genre cannot be underestimated. Tragically, Chuck Brown passed away on May 16, 2012, at the age of 75. However, his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and entertain people around the world. He will always be remembered as a true innovator and pioneer of go-go music, leaving behind a lasting imprint on the history of American music..
Reviews for "Celebrating Chuck Brown's Contributions to the Washington, D.C. Music Scene"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - I was really disappointed in "Chuck Brown Mr. Mxgic". The songs all sounded the same and the lyrics were repetitive and uninspired. I was expecting more from an artist like Chuck Brown, but this album fell flat for me. I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't even finish listening to "Chuck Brown Mr. Mxgic". The production quality was poor, and it was hard to make out the vocals over the excessive use of autotune. The album lacked originality and felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on a trend. Save your time and money, there are much better albums out there.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Chuck Brown Mr. Mxgic", but it failed to live up to my expectations. The album lacked diversity and every song had a similar sound. It felt like I was listening to the same track on repeat. Additionally, the lyrics were shallow and lacked depth. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this album to others.
4. David - 2.5 stars - "Chuck Brown Mr. Mxgic" had a few enjoyable tracks, but as a whole, it left me unsatisfied. The production was mediocre and the album lacked any standout songs. I found myself getting bored halfway through and the album didn't leave a lasting impression. It's a forgettable release from Chuck Brown.