Manager Tom Goldfogle says that the 75-year-old guitarist and singer died Wednesday, May 16 of multiple-organ failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
- May 17, 2012
AceShowbiz - Another sad news has come from the music industry. Just a few days after Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. and the MGs passed away in his sleep, words spread that Washington, D.C.'s funk music legend Chuck Brown has died at the age of 75 after being hospitalized for about four weeks with pneumonia.
Manager Tom Goldfogle told CNN that Brown, who was hailed as the "Godfather of Go-Go", died of multiple-organ failure from sepsis at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In a statement about the guitarist/singer's passing, he said, "His family continues to be grateful for the outpouring of love and support and requests respect for their privacy during this difficult time."
Brown's family have also released their statement via his Facebook account. "We know that Chuck's legacy will live on through all of you who have supported him and his creation of Go-Go," it read. "His passion, inspiration and drive have always come from his family and fans. He would have wanted all of his fans to know that they meant the world to him and none of his success was possible without them."
Among those mourning the loss were director Spike Lee and rapper Wale. While Lee said through a spokeswoman, "Chuck Brown Will Always Be 'Bustin' Loose' - the Godfather of Go-Go," Wale took to Twitter to simply say, "RIP to the Legend ...Chuck Brown. u will be missed worldwide. #dcornothing."
District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray also paid a tribute to the late singer. "RIP to the Godfather of Go-go, a great man, & my friend Chuck Brown. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ his family. What a loss...," he tweeted. He also told The Associated Press, "Go-go is D.C.'s very own unique contribution to the world of pop music. Today is a very sad day for music lovers the world over."
Brown, whose hit songs include "I Need Some Money", "Ashley's Roachclip" and "Bustin' Loose", is survived by wife Jocelyn, sons Nekos, Wiley and Bill, and daughter Takesa. Funeral arrangements were pending.
