Chuck Brown: TV One’s ‘Unsung’ To Profile ‘Bustin Loose,’ Go Go Great Tonight

The Chuck Brown story will debut tonight on the next episode of Unsung on TV One. Unsung is a popular weekly show that profiles primarily African American artists through interviews with former band members, family members, and other artists. Tonight’s Unsung: The Story of Chuck Brown and Go-Go will show how Chuck Brown, commonly referred to as the Godfather of Go Go, got his start and how his music took over the city of D.C.

The former boxer came on the scene in the 1960’s as he performed and mimicked the sound of Top 40 songs. His sound electrified audiences in the 1970’s when Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers mixed his music with Congo drums—adding in some Latin flavor, and non-stop percussion—creating a unique sound that became known as Go Go music.

Chuck Brown’s ability to connect with his audience by speaking to them directly over the sound of the Congo drums created a frenzy that changed the way people behaved at his shows. In an interview, Brown said that he knew that his music was connecting with people when they stopped showing up to his shows in their dressy clothing and concert attendants began removing the chairs. People wanted to dance, and they didnt want dressy clothes and tables stopping them. The late 1970’s hit song “Bustin Loose” drove people crazy while they watched Chuck Brown perform the song for hours without stopping. Brown talked about the song.

“‘Bustin’ Loose’ was the one record I had so much confidence in. I messed with it for two years, wrote a hundred lines of lyrics and only ended up using two lines..?.?. It was the only time in my career that I felt like it’s going to be a hit.”

He also stated that his love for music goes all the way back to his young days of playing the piano in the local church, and the talented youngster was well on his way to becoming a performer until he shot and killed a man in 1950’s. Chuck Brown has always maintained that he killed the man in self defense, but a Virginia jury sent him to prison for eight years, according to the Washington Post.

Making the best of his time in prison, Go Go great Chuck Brown learned to play the guitar. Once he left prison, he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his days playing the guitar and creating music for people to enjoy. And enjoy his music they did. Chuck Brown’s music was the backdrop of Washington D.C.’s Afro-centric, funk, rap music culture all throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s with hit songs such as Wind Me Up, Chuck.

Chuck Brown died at the age of 75 on May 16, 2012 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. His manager confirmed that his death was due to complications of sepsis and multiple organ failure, after being previously diagnosed with pneumonia. Watch how TV One‘s Unsung: The Story of Chuck Brown and Go-Go chronicles Chuck Brown’s rise to fame tonight at 8 p.m.

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