James Brown: '50s & '60s

These were the years when the young James Brown became The Godfather of Soul. Debuting in 1956, he was already a singer of unparalleled force, mixing raw blues and testifying gospel into his performances. His music got fiercer, tougher and even more thrilling throughout the '60s. From passionate ballads to hard-driving funk jams, these are the powerful peaks from Brown's most prolific era.