Chuck Brown

Chuck Brown -- jazz artist -- (August 28, 1936–May 16, 2012) was an African-American jazz guitarist, singer and the Godfather of Go-Go, which is a sub-genre of funk music from Washington, D.C.

Browns musical career began in the 1960s playing guitar with Jerry Butler and The Earls of Rhythm, joining Los Latinos in 1965. He still performs music today and is commonly known in the Washington, DC area. Browns early hits include "I Need Some Money" and "Bustin Loose". "Bustin Loose" has been adopted by the Washington Nationals baseball team as its seventh inning stretch song. Brown also recorded go-go covers of early jazz and blues songs, such as "Go-Go Swing" Duke Ellingtons "It Dont Mean a Thing If Aint Got That Swing", "Moodys Mood for Love", Johnny Mercers "Midnight Sun", Louis Jordans "Run Joe", and T-Bone Walkers "Stormy Monday".

He has influenced other go-go bands such as Big G and The Backyard Band, Rare Essence, Experience Unlimited (EU), Little Benny and the Masters, and Trouble Funk.

The song "Ashleys Roachclip" from the Soul Searchers 1974 album Salt of the Earth contains a famous drum break.

Brown is considered a local legend in Washington, D.C., and has appeared in television advertisements for the Washington Post and other area companies. The D.C. Lotterys "Rolling Cash 5" ad campaign features Chuck Brown singing his 2007 song "The Party Roll" in front of various D.C. city landmarks such as Bens Chili Bowl.

Brown passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 of multiple organ failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.