James Brown is often referred to as the “Godfather of Soul” but he also influenced other music genres including Funk. As a major figure of 20th-century music and dance, he is also known as a fore bearer and pioneer of funk music. James Brown was truly innovative and started a funk revolution. He broke down longstanding racial and musical barriers during one of the most crucial times in this country, the civil rights movement. He was known for his social activism and eventually in 1968 released a civil-rights funk anthem, by the name “Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”, which invigorated the black community to stand in their truth and be proud to be black despite the backlash for being so. James Brown formed funk into a separate genre from rock, soul, and R&B. Brown assembled musicians into his own band and gave them direction and late some of those musicians broke off and developed their own funk careers still carrying on the elements of Funk that Brown introduced them to.