James Brown in 1960s America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

James Brown in 1960s America - Essay Example It is in large part a testament to his adaptability and creative genius that Brown’s music evolved through the ‘60’s with such apparent ease. Building on his musical roots in African-American jazz and blues, Brown reached out to a broader and increasingly-eclectic audience as the decade unfolded. Whereas his music had at first been performed for and pitched to a predominately black market, by the mid-‘60’s his hits were to be found on the pop as well as R&B charts. Evidence of his broad appeal and ability to appropriate new elements into his music is clearly heralded in his 1965 hit single Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag: Come here mama, and dig this crazy scene; He’s not too fancy, but his line is pretty clean. He ain’t no drag. Papa’s got a brand new bag. Listed among â€Å"Papa’s† new tricks was a series of new dance moves that were sweeping the nation and scandalizing parents—among them, the jerk, the fly, the monkey, and the mashed potato. Since very little art is produced in isolation, it is impossible to evaluate Brown’s music and his influence on the American music scene without also looking closely at the tumultuous changes that were straining the cultural fabric of 1960’s America. Much has been written about this remarkable decade and of the social movements that characterized it. In the short span of those ten years, Americans made their first flights into space, took dramatic strides toward ending segregation, became mired in a costly and unpopular war in Vietnam, and assassinated four of their most visionary leaders.