Chuck Brown

Chuck Brown is considered the pioneer and fundamental force behind a style of music called Go-Go. Go-Go music incorporates Funk, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Blues, Soul, R & B and Dancehall music. This music is mostly known of and performed in the Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C. but has grown national attention most recently in part to the contributions of Chuck Brown and his band "The Soul Searchers". Go-Go music has its origins from the late 1960's but was popularized in the 1970's. Chuck Brown played the guitar. Chuck's signature guitar was the blonde Gibson ES-335. Early in his career Chuck played for Soul Singer Jerry Butler. Chuck Brown was nicknamed the Godfather of Go-Go. Chuck Brown has a huge and loyal following in the Washington, D.C. area and has also influenced and worked with a wide variety of performers such as Jill Scott, Ledisi, Marcus Miller plus many other Go-Go bands and performers. Chuck Brown was recently named one of the 45 most influential people who shaped DC in the past 45 years by Washingtonian Magazine. Chuck Brown was considered a local legend in Washington, D.C. and in 2009, the block of 7th Street in Northwest D.C. between Florida Avenue and T Street was renamed "Chuck Brown Way" in his honor. On September 4th, 2011, Chuck Brown was honored by the National Symphony Orchestra. The NSO paid tribute to Legends of Washington Music with a free Labor Day concert. The tribute included other Washington, D.C. legends such as Duke Ellington and John Phillip Sousa. The free concert was performed on the West Lawn of the Capitol building. Chuck Brown and his band (the Soul Searchers), finished the evening with a performance. A few of Chuck Brown's early hits include "We the People", "I Need Some Money" and "Bustin' Loose". "Bustin' Loose" has been adopted by the Washington Nationals baseball team as its home run celebration song. "Bustin' Loose" is also featured in a national television campaign ad for Chips Ahoy Cookies.