Christmas 2006 – With the words “I’m going away tonight,” the hardest-working man in showbiz James Brown passed away at the age of 73. A dynamic performer, Brown was instrumental in not only shaping musical genres, but also the growth of a community. In the 1960s, he was a voice for calm during a period of urban riots and continued to stand up and speak out (against racism) throughout his career. Brown’s traditional performance close — wailing, falling to his knees, covered with a cape, led almost off stage, only to rise again and return to the center, bringing the screaming crowd to its feet — is indelible.