A block party will mark James Brown’s birthday.
Organizer Coco Rubio said “it’s exciting” to have the opportunity for a celebration– even if it is a scaled down one– after last year’s lockdown.
James Brown Boulevard will be blocked off between Broad and Reynolds Streets from 2 to 8 p.m. on May 1.
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Brown’s daughter, Deanna Brown Thomas, also expressed excitement at the event.
“Coco and I have been friends for a long time. He has love and respect when it comes to my father and family,” she said.
The block features the James Brown mural painted by artist Cole Phail.
One of the differences between this party and previous events to mark the Godfather of Soul’s birthday is the lack of live music. Pupils from the James Brown Academy of Musik (J.A.M.P.) will not perform this year for safety reasons. Thomas said she knows people will be disappointed, but she also knows they understand the reasons.
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Instead, multiple DJs will play tunes. DJ Lady Marauder, DJ Matto, DJ Slickerthanoil and DJ Kut Daily are scheduled for sets during the event.
While people can see Phail’s finished art, a video will be shown that shows the process behind the mural’s creation.
Lauryn Sprouse will curate live art demos, and party-goers can participate in a group art piece.
“It will have a Social Canvas feel,” said Rubio, referring to a popular event held at the Morris Museum of Art, featuring live painting and live music.
Rubio said the party is scheduled in the afternoon to give people the opportunity to participate in other downtown happenings such as the Saturday Market at Riverwalk during the morning.
They could also take a James Brown walking tour of downtown or take part in the James Brown Historical Family Tours.
Info on the walking tour is available at visitaugusta.com/soul-starts-here. The website features audio, plus a map and brochure highlighting several downtown spots that Brown frequented.
Thomas has fond memories of one of those stops on the map.
At one time on the corner of Ninth and Broad Streets was WAAW, The Boss radio station owned by Brown.
Thomas was a DJ at the station, and her famous father would sometimes visit her at work.
“He would stop by and say ‘put me on the radio,’” she said.
And he wasn’t the only one who might happen into the station.
“People would see us in there and he would wave. Sometimes, he’d let them in,” she said.
Thomas said her father was accessible to his fans.
The James Brown Historical Family Tours are held from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. each Saturday.
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“The tour begins at the Augusta Museum of History. Along with a guide, the bus tour visit sites that are significant to the history of James Brown growing up and living in Augusta. Highlights include such sites as the elementary school that James Brown attended, the home where he lived as a child, businesses he owned, the James Brown Statue, the James Brown Arena and much more. Patrons also get the opportunity to see the largest exhibit of his memorabilia at The Augusta Museum of History following the tour,” according to the James Brown Family Foundation website, jamesbrownfamilyfdn.org.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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