Mick Jagger and the Roots Are Producing a James Brown Documentary

'James Brown: Say It Loud' features never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Feb 28, 2022

Mick Jagger and the Roots' Questlove and Black Thought are executive producing a new documentary series on the life and work of James Brown.

The Rolling Stones' frontman and the Roots' co-founders will executive produce James Brown: Say It Loud, a four-hour docuseries from A&E slated to arrive in 2023, which would have been Brown's 90th year of life.

Per the network, James Brown: Say It Loud will explore "how Brown persevered through decades of personal demons, racial injustice and career setbacks to find redemption and become one of the most celebrated and influential artists of the 20th century," and will include never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with friends, family, collaborators and more.

"I am thrilled to be producing the four-part documentary series with A&E delving into the fascinating life of James Brown," Jagger said in a statement. "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."

"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," Questlove and Black Thought added. "Brown's life is a crucial and timely story of struggle, redemption, and self-identity and we are honoured to have the chance to share it."

Jagger has played a role in bringing Brown's story to screen on a pair of prior occasions. The Rolling Stone co-produced Alex Gibney's 2014 documentary Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (which Questlove also appeared in), and also co-produced Tate Taylor's biographical Brown film Get On Up, in which the late Chadwick Boseman starred as the soul icon.

Questlove celebrated Black cultural icons with last year's Summer of Soul, a documentary (and his directorial debut) which was among Exclaim!'s Best Films of 2021.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Questlove (@questlove)

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