James

  The shortest concert I ever attended was James Brown.  He was being honored by the State of South Carolina for his contribution to the Arts.  The presentation was on the north side of the State House.  There was a jazz band entertaining the crowd.  When James got up to speak, someone from the crowd yelled out to James:  "Give us a song!"  He said that he had to get paid first.  Everyone laughed, but I think he was serious.  After all, he was going through some tough times financially with the IRS.  The jazz band was ready to accompany him.  Everyone in the crowd started yelling for a song.  The band played the first bars of a song, and James belted out three words:  "I Feel Good!"  That was it.  

 On a side note, I was in Augusta, GA one Saturday afternoon.  I had just been to my favorite record store down there.  As I was driving out of town, I saw a bus off to the side in a parking lot.  The door of the bus was open, and a man was sitting on the bottom step of the bus.  I recognized him as James Brown.  He was all alone.  I honked the horn and waved.  He waved back.  I didn't have the guts to drive up to him and say hello.  He might have been in deep thought about another song.  At least, that is what I told myself.  Another regret of my life.