Deanna Thomas-Brown stepped up to the James Brown statue in Augusta, Georgia, and rested her head on its bronze shoulder. “Standing behind my father, rolling his hair, I learned everything I ever needed to know,” she said. It was just one of many fascinating statements we would hear during our three-hour James Brown Family Tour. From our initial stop at the bronze of the famous soul artist to the permanent James Brown exhibit at the Augusta Museum, Deanna provided a glimpse into the the life of the famous soul artist. Stops included his childhood home, the club where he competed in talent contests as a teen, theaters where he later performed, and the radio stations he owned, but learning firsthand about Brown’s loves, his weaknesses, and his penchant for flamboyant clothes from his daughter was definitely the highlight of the tour.
