Rocker Mick Jagger and The Roots Drummer Questlove are exec producing a four-part docuseries about the late Godfather of Soul James Brown for A&E.
The cable network has ordered James Brown: Say It Loud, directed by Deborah Riley Draper, who helmed the much-heralded ‘The Legacy of Black Wall Street.’
James Brown: Say It Loud The production, entitled ‘James Brown: Say It Loud” set for a 2023 release, presented around what would have been Brown’s 90th birthday. The series will explore Brown’s legacy with interviews with friends, family, collaborators and proteges as well as delve into his beloved music catalog and includes never-been-seen-before archival footage.
In this production, Browns’ life will be traced from when he was a seventh-grade dropout arrested for armed robbery in the Jim Crow-era South to his ascension as an entertainment legend.
It is produced by Inaudible Films, which produced ‘Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown and is working on documentaries about Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Lee Lewis, in association with Polygram Entertainment.
Draper directs, Peter Afterman serves as executive producer for Inaudible Films along with producer Sarah Haber, Jagger and Victoria Pearman exec produce for Jagged Films, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson — who directed Oscar-nominated doc Summer of Soul — Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Shawn Gee and Zarah Zohlman exec produce for Two One Five Entertainment and David Blackman exec produces for Polygram Entertainment.
Charlie Cohen and A&E Network’s Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson also exec produce, while Madeline Post and Robert Komadina co-exec produce.
“I am thrilled to be producing the four-part documentary series with A&E delving into the fascinating life of James Brown,” said Jagger. “He was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement. I have always admired James and learned so much from him. I look forward to bringing the series to life.”
Said Thompson and Trotter: “The life of James Brown is significant not only to understand his immense musical impact, which inspires us and other artists to this day, but also for the deep and lasting impression he has had on American culture. Brown’s life is a crucial and timely story of struggle, redemption, and self-identity and we are honored to have the chance to share it.”
