During his long career, James Brown earned many nicknames, but he's best remembered as The Godfather of Soul. An electrifying performer and a singer of startling intensity, Brown debuted in 1956, and he quickly became soul music's most exciting star. From down-and-dirty dance records to powerhouse ballads, he recorded dozens of hit singles in the '60s. In the '70s, he launched a funk revolution, and his hard-driving grooves got the whole world dancing. Brown continued to thrill audiences until his death in 2006, and it's impossible not to turn it loose when these hits are playing.