Soul/Funk Icon James Brown died on Christmas day in 2006, but his music lives on through an ensemble of school aged children from Augusta.

Christmas day marks the anniversary of Soul & Funk Icon James Brown’s death. The Augusta native son was, indeed, the hardest working man in show business. In fact, a recent analysis by music journalist Joel Whitburn of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Hot R&B Songs, showed James Brown to be number one on the list of The Top 500 Artists.

However, December 25, 2006 was not the day the music died. His legacy is living on through a group of school aged students in Augusta who attend “The James Brown Academy of Musik”. The older and more skillful musicians who participate have been molded into a performing contingent known as “The JAMP Masters”. 

This buzz-worthy ensemble is attracting attention from Japan to Jamaica, and all points in between.  Click here to listen to “The JAMP Radio Special”, which introduces you to Deanna Brown Thomas, the daughter of The Godfather of Soul and the organization’s founder, as well as the parents, instructors, and talented young artists who make the music and magic happen on stage.