Godfather of Go-Go Had Died

Posted: May 16 2012

Read More: Chuck Brown, Go-go, Godfather of Go-go, guitarists

HOLLYWOOD – Chuck Brown, nicknamed ‘The Godfather of Go-Go’ passed away on Wednesday at the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was 75.

Brown who had been ill for a while, had already cancelled all his scheduled performances last week because of a lung infection.

Manager Tom Goldfogle confirmed Brown’s passing.

The guitarist/singer played in several bands in the 60s until he finally broke through in Washington DC towards the end of the 70s with ‘Go-Go’; a sub-genre of Funk.

Brown’s most popular single was ‘We Need Some Money‘. He also recorded and released ‘Bustin’ Loose‘ and ‘Run Joe’.

Godfather of Go-go, Chuck Brown. Photo Credit: AEP

In 2011, Brown’s single ‘L.O.V.E.’ was nominated for a Grammy in the category “Best R&B presentation by a duo or group”.

During the 80s, Brown had a hectic work schedule that included performing six days per week. Although he slowed down later on in life, retiring was not on his mind.

“I am not retiring because I am not tired. They still book me and I still have a lot of inspiration,” Brown said in 2006.

“As long as I can get on a stage, I want to make people happy. I want to make people dance.”

Charles Louis Brown was born August 22nd 1936 in Gaston, North Carolina. He never knew his dad Albert Louis Moody, a marine, and adopted the last name of his mother, Lyla Louise Brown, who worked as a housekeeper.