James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, Mister Dynamite, the pioneer of Rhythm & Blues was one of the most influent music star of 20th century, the artist who had the highest number of covers of Rolling Stones Magazine, inspiration for many great artists like Michael Jackson and more recently Bruno Mars.
He started touring with Francesco Sanavio in 1979 when he did with him 7 dates in Milan, Bologna, Treviso, Roma, Viareggio at Bussoladomani, Napoli and Taormina at the Greek Theatre.
“I was shocked by the strong personality of James Brown” says Francesco Sanavio talking about him. “First of all with his crew in the restaurant he was taking orders for everybody in his entourage, if he had a steak for example, everyone would have had a steak. He had always with him his hair guy doing the hair for two hours before the show. I could stay hours to talk about him, but here are the most funny episodes I can remember.
One night we were at Bussoladomani in Viareggio. The show was due at 9pm when he was still doing his hair under the dryer. The owner of the club Bernardini knocked at the door of his dressing room and when he entered James Brown said he wanted the Pope to introduce the show, otherwise he would not get on stage. After 20 minutes Bernardini dressed as the Pope knocked at the door saying ” I’m here just for you Mr. Brown, I came here by helicopter, but I cannot present the show, you go on stage and I will be back stage for you”. James Brown went on stage immediately. Many times he had these crazy ideas in his mind.
I remember James Brown was always late. One time we were in Santa Margherita Ligure late for the night show at “Il Covo di Nord Est”. Since he was scared of the Italian Mafia, the owner of the club Lello Liguori decided to send to the hotel two Mafia looking guys with long coats as to cover their guns. When James Brown was told that the guys were there to bring him to the club in one minute he was downstairs in the lobby.
Every James Brown performance was fantastic. He was the best on stage. Always! Every time, every performance was a standing ovation with the audience dancing for two hours.
The most important tour I’ve done with James Brown was the European tour in 1986 after the release of his hit “Living in America” featured in the movie soundtrack of Rocky IV that reached number one all over Europe. That year I did 50 concerts including 2 days at Bercy in Paris (12.000 capacity), 2 dates at Wembley Arena in London (10.000 capacity), Brussels, Rotterdam in Holland (you can see the poster down here), Bremen in Germany, Zurich, Barcelona and Madrid in Spain and many more.
In Paris we were in the limo going back to the hotel, two Police cars behind the limo started following us with sirens wailing. James Brown then said to me: “Thank you Mr. Sanavio for this nice escort service!” And I said: ” Mr. Brown the Police is following us because they want to arrest you at the hotel”. James Brown had had a big fight with his wife and she had called the Police to arrest him, but at the hotel everything was cool at the end.”
Here is a video of his amazing performance Umbria Jazz in 2006. It was one of his latest shows in Italy before his death on December 25th 2006.
James Brown live at “Buona Domenica” on Mediaset Channel 5 – Sunday afternoon TV Show
James Brown live on Italian Rai TV Show hosted by Raffaella Carrà
Here is a rare video of James Brown concert at the club L’Altromondo in Rimini.
Here is a performance live in Rome in 1994 broadcasted on Raiuno.
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