JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE
JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE
JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE
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JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE
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JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE

Details
JAMES BROWN: 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' STAGE CAPE
A full-length elaborate stage cape embellished all over with red sequins, trimmed with red satin, the reverse with circular satin panel embroidered in yellow silk thread JAMES BROWN GODFATHER OF SOUL, the gown worn on stage by James Brown 1990s-2000s, including during his appearance at the BBC Four Sessions, Jan 3, 2004 and on stage at Bonnaroo Festival, Long Island, New York, 15 June, 2003, the cape later draped over his coffin by Danny Ray during his funeral at the James Brown Arena, Augusta, Georgia, December 30, 2006
Provenance
Danny Ray, James Brown's Cape Man and Emcee.
Julien's, Los Angeles, 8 November 2014, lot 404.
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, 10 July 2022, lot 90361.
Exhibited
Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, WA, Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music, 2025

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The Jim Irsay Collection
The Jim Irsay Collection General Enquires

Lot Essay

Danny Ray, James Brown's 'Cape Man and Emcee', became a regular feature of James Brown's live shows from the 1960s. Originally coerced on stage by James Brown as the opening act to fire up the crowd, Ray would later come on stage at the end of the show. James Brown would fall to the ground on stage during his rendition of 'Please Please Please' and Danny Ray would appear on stage to drape one of Brown's stage capes over him, at which point Brown would rise up and carry on with an encore. It was a dramatic addition to the show which became a trademark and, after performing the stunt on the T.A.M.I. Show with the Rolling Stones in 1964, James Brown was elevated from a musician with a predominantly black following to become an international pop icon. This particular cape dates from the latter period of James Brown's life and was the cape chosen by Danny Ray to drape over James Brown's coffin during his funeral.

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