'Godfather of Soul' defends Michael Jackson<\/p>\n
Michael Casey, Associated Press\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Legendary soul singer James Brown said on Sunday that Michael
\nJackson was being "set up" in his child molestation trial and
\nthat the embattled performer should be touring tsunami-hit Asia
\nrather than defending himself in a U.S. court.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Associated Press in Indonesia ahead of a
\nconcert on Sunday, the 71-year-old Godfather of Soul also claimed
\nto be the root of modern music.<\/p>\n
"All the music playing the last part of the 20th century was
\nall James Brown," he said. "The 21st century is just James Brown
\nperiod. Whether it's rap, hip hop, gospel, or country doesn't
\nmake no difference. They are all using my stuff and I'm glad
\nbecause I've been able to bring something to music."<\/p>\n
Brown -- famous for hits such as "Please, Please" and "Papa's
\nGot A Brand New Bag" -- said Jackson, who is fighting child
\nmolestation charges, should pray and he compared the performer's
\nlegal woes to his own. Brown spent time in jail in the 1980s and
\n1990s on drug and assault charges.<\/p>\n
"Recognize that people do this ... They've been trying to do
\nthat to me all my life, trying to get something for nothing ... I
\nthink he's been set up like most entertainers. People think you
\nhave a lot of money," Brown said in the telephone interview.<\/p>\n
He said Jackson should be in places like tsunami-ravaged
\nIndonesia, rather than in a California courtroom.<\/p>\n
"We need Michael. We need Michael out here entertaining," he
\nsaid in his husky southern drawl. "Michael could have been great
\nover here performing. His talent is very appealing and people
\nknow him. One day I'll be too old to travel and I'll want to see
\ngood entertainers (like him) spreading the good word."<\/p>\n
Brown said he came to Indonesia in part to raise awareness
\nabout the Dec. 26 tsunami that killed more than 173,000 people in
\n11 countries around the Indian Ocean. At the first of his two
\nconcerts in Jakarta on Friday, he talked about need to help
\ntsunami victims, adding that he and his wife Tommie Rae were
\nconsidering sponsoring children orphaned by the disaster.<\/p>\n
"I am someone who loves humanity and wants to do something
\nabout the injustices and to do something for the terrible
\ntragedies in this world, like the tsunami," Brown said. "The
\ntsunami was very heart-wrenching ... to see parents without their
\nmothers and fathers, to see kids homeless ... so we gotta do
\nsomething to help them."<\/p>\n
Brown shrugged off talk of retirement and said he still has a
\nrole spreading love, tolerance and understanding through his
\nmusic. After he returns to the United States, he said he will
\nstart a tour of South America.<\/p>\n
"My problem is that they've been saying this to me for 35
\nyears: 'When are you going to retire?"' he said. "Retire. Retire
\nfor what? What would I do? I made my name as a person that is
\nhelping.<\/p>\n
"I'm like Moses in the music business. I want to do God's work
\nand I want to make the world better and more peaceful. All those
\nsongs. Those millions of songs. Who is going to do them?"<\/p>\n
In December, Brown successfully underwent surgery to treat
\nprostate cancer, which came on the heels of a long battle with
\ndiabetes.<\/p>\n
But he said he "feels good" and showed no ill effects during
\nhis 90-minute performance on Friday night. Flanked by a 13-piece
\nband, Brown put on an inspiring performance in which he sang many
\nof his hit songs, danced around the stage and joined his wife --
\nwho is one of his backup singers -- in some soulful give and
\ntake.<\/p>\n
In the interview, Brown also spoke about his problems with his
\n33-year-old wife. Last year, the singer pleaded guilty to pushing
\nher to the floor and threatening to kill her.<\/p>\n
"My wife and I have suffered enough," he said. "If you're
\ngoing to be big and popular, you're going to have to take the
\nfall if there is fall to be taken. I can take it. Let them say
\nwhat they want. Whatever they say, she is mine and I'm hers."<\/p>\n
GetAP 1.00 -- MAR 6, 2005 15:56:45<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/godfather-of-soul-defends-michael-jackson-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }