Those of you that may have a greater affinity for go-go music than myself will have to excuse the brevity of this post. I almost didn't say anything about it at all. However, being that there was song in particular that comes to mind everytime I think of go-go music then I would be remiss if I didn't say a little something about the passing of this legend.
The Godfather of Go-Go music Chuck Brown passed away last Wednesday due to complications from sepsis. He was 75-years-old.
Maybe if I lived in DC then I would have a greater appreciation for the impact that Chuck had on music with his creation of the go-go sound. However, having lived in the midwest for all my life then the only thing I can relate to in terms of a genre that a region created is house music. And even then I couldn't tell you who would be considered the godfather of house music.
Honestly, I never even heard a Chuck Brown song until the news of his passing. Then I started catching them much more frequently on the likes of Sirius and Pandora. Although to be fair it was always the same song they played: "Bustin' Loose". Didn't know that was his. I had a sound much more different in mind when I think of go-go.
The extent of my go-go is the one-hit wonders EU who came up with "Da Butt" from the "School Daze" soundtrack. LOVED that song. I still occasionally pump it to this day. Mainly because it brings back fond memories of the AKA Catilion my senior year in high school. One of the very last things I did before I would end up leaving for a summer with the Air National Guard a couple of days later.
So if Chuck Brown was the godfather that helped to later inspire groups like EU to give us cuts like "Da Butt" then it was imperative that I give him his due credit. I understand that he would perform tirelessly at his shows making it hard to believe that he was 70+. I can always appreciate that type of work ethic and it will definitely be missed in an era where that is what is lacking in today's music.
Rest in peace, Godfather.
