James Brown's got a brand new bag: School violence

Godfather of Soul James Brown has a new message: "Killing's Out and School's In"

By Kip Grosenick
CNN

COLUMBUS, Georgia (CNN) -- He is the man of many nicknames. "The Godfather of Soul." "The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business." "Soul Brother Number One." "Mr. Dynamite." For more than 40 years, James Brown has lived up to his billing, putting on a razor-sharp show of elastic moves, tight musicianship, and pure entertainment.

But, throughout his career, Brown has also been a man with a message. In the late '60s, he was a much-listened-to voice for brotherhood, calming communities that threatened to explode into riot. Today, James Brown has a different bag: ending the violence in schools.

"Killing's out and school's in and we're in bad shape," he says, relaxing before a late-April tour stop in this Georgia city.

VIDEO The 'Godfather of Soul' performs 'Make it Funky' in concert (May 21) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Keep kids interested, Brown says James Brown is mad   MESSAGE BOARD School safety

He's pondered Santana, Jonesboro, Columbine. The litany of school shootings, too much for any of us, has also been too much for James Brown.

In an effort to help turn the tide, Brown did what comes most naturally: He wrote a song. The tune, "Killing's Out and School's In," stresses love and understanding.

It hasn't received much radio play, but it is attracting attention. The National Crime Prevention Council, perhaps best-known for its ads featuring McGruff the Crime Dog, is expressing interest in using the song, and Brown, in radio and TV public service announcements.

"We need to protect the kids by giving them something to do," Brown says. "(It's about) making them interested, making them love mom and dad more, love the family more, love themselves more and love their school. So there won't have to be killing in school."

He repeats the title of the song. "Killing's out and school's in," he says.

High energy

There is some irony here. In the late '80s, Brown was in the news for being accused of assault and battery by his then-wife, then leading police on a car chase and allegedly threatening people with a shotgun. He eventually served two years in prison.

But he also has a long history of working with at-risk children, as well as promoting the importance of education.

In 1966, he cut a single called "Don't Be a Drop-out." That song is one of almost 100 Brown has had on the Billboard charts in the past five decades. It's a list that reads like a history of soul and funk music: "Please, Please, Please," "Night Train," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Cold Sweat," "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)," "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine," "Living in America."

But he may be even better known for his high-energy performances. In his mid-'60s heyday, not even the Rolling Stones wanted to come on after James Brown -- sweating, prostrate, covered with a cape, the Famous Flames pounding the beat behind him -- was through with the stage.

At 68, he still puts on an energetic show and performs more than 100 times a year.

'I could care less about the record'

Brown has also kept his hand in the movie business, having recently filmed a role in an action comedy with Eddie Griffin called "Undercover Brother," scheduled for release in June 2002.

His other movie appearances include "The Blues Brothers," "Doctor Detroit," and "Rocky IV" -- all in which he plays himself or someone a heck of a lot like himself.

But music, of course, remains at the forefront. Still, even though he hasn't had a hit in more than 15 years, Brown says he's not looking for more gold or platinum with this song.

The kids come first, he maintains.

"We need (people) to come forward to save our country and our kids," he says. "I could care less about the record. If you say you're already into that, you can throw the record away. But we've got to save these children. That's what's important.

"I'm mad," he adds. "We're letting these kids get killed out here and we're not doing anything about it."