There aren’t many musical genres that can be traced back to one particular place or a singular artist, but there’s no disputing that D.C.’s Chuck Brown is the “godfather of Go-Go.”
“I’m not what you might call a lyric writer. I write hooks and try to make people work with the audience. And the funky tracks, that’s what you need,” said Mr. Brown in an interview with NPR.
D.C. rightfully has a street named in his honor: Chuck Brown Way, on a block of Seventh Street in Northwest, near the Howard Theater.
His works still resonate in the collective consciousness. Nelly’s 2002 “Hot in Herre” wouldn’t have been as popular if it didn’t use a sample from Brown’s “Bustin Loose.” Moreover, Eve sampled “Blow Your Whistle” for her song “Tambourine.”
He told the Washington Post in 2006, “As long as I can walk on that stage, I want to make people happy. I want to make people dance.”
His music will surely keep us dancing for many years to come. Our hearts, prayers and thoughts go to Mr. Brown’s family and friends.
