Merry Christmas Mr Brown

The day has finally arrived. Christmas is here. I'm just about ready to go downstairs and open some presents. But first I have to check my emails. I mistakenly open my browser and the Charlotte.com opens up. The top news story: "Legendary singer James Brown dies at 73".

Like many people of my age I grew up with the sounds of James Brown. As a young boy our family traveled because dad was in the navy. I remember hearing "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" on the Armed Services radio station. Later we moved to San Diego. I use to hear his music playing on the kids radios during lunch hour. The kids use to form a two lines facing each other and one by one they would dance down the center. The music was usually the Ohio Players or Earth, Wind and Fire, but you could always count on a James Brown song in there. And his music never stopped. He kept playing to the end. We'll all miss him. Goodbye, Mr. Brown