Bootsy Collins Organizes Tribute Concert For Godfather of Soul

Who would have figured that it wouldn't be until a year after his death that James Brown, one of the greatest musical icons of the twentieth century, would receive an all-star tribute concert. The gross negligence didn't cross my mind until today when Cincinnatti Citybeat reported that legendary bassist Bootsy Collins and his wife Patti had organized such a performance for this Saturday at the Madison Theater in Covington, Kentucky. The Godfather of Soul gave Bootsy his first break in the funk business and to hear Bootsy tell it, James Brown was his father, teacher and army general all rolled into one.

The tribute concert, organized by the Collins', comes almost a year after Brown's death on Christmas Day 2006. Performances will include sets from The Soul Generals, who were Brown's road band for the past two decades, and a reunion of the JB's, the backing band which included Bootsy on bass. Chuck D will host a portion of the evening. Stand-ups Tommy Davidson and Michael Collier will perform as well. Most bizarrely, current Guns n' Roses lead guitarist Buckethead will pay his homage to the former Hardest Working Man in Show Business with some electrifying fretwork. Bootsy intends this to be the first in a series of annual concerts, which pay tribute to the man he calls "The Martin Luther King Jr. of music."

What's cool about the concert is the sense that this is a local, homegrown affair and not another chance for Bono and Sean Penn to stick their face into a camera. Ticket prices range from 10 to 25 dollars and proceeds will go towards rebuilding Brown's early recording studio at the Cincinnatti's King Records and a potential museum.