In lieu of flowers, the family of James Brown has set up a new non-profit foundation, the James Brown Music Education Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to provide funds for music education and scholarships in the spirit of James Brown's life-long wish to support music creativity and originality in young people. The foundations website can be found at http://www.jbmusicfoundation.com

James Brown was looking forward to spending five days in a studio with his friend, Joss Stone in 2007 to write and record new songs in his legendary manner: live and funky, capturing the energy of the moment. Miss Stone and Mr. Brown performed together at the spur of the moment on the UK's Jonathan Ross Show in 2005. After recording the song, "They Don't Want Music" with the Black Eyed Peas on the multi-platinum album, "Monkey Business," Mr. Brown was inspired to record and produce music with young artists. In recent years, Mr. Brown has performed with artists including Justin Timberlake, Usher, Dave Matthews, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joss Stone, the Black Eyed Peas, the London Gospel Choir, UK actor/musician Max Beasley, and UK Pop Idol star and close friend, Will Young.

James Brown was excited to develop and teach new, young talent. Mr. Brown was scheduled to record two new tracks for his new album, "World Funk Against the Grain," on Tuesday, January 2nd, in Montreal. The two songs were co-written by Mr. Brown with an up and coming, young L.A.-based songwriter, Gabe Lopez. Mr. Brown said that "Mr. Lopez gets the funk. Mr. Lopez gives us hope for the future of music." James Brown had recorded eight new songs for his new album over the past two years and was looking to finish recording with the two new tracks.

Mr. Brown last performed at the Apollo Theater in November of 2003 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his groundbreaking performance on the famous Harlem stage. A recording of this performance at the Apollo will be released in March, 2007, with profits going to the James Brown Music Education Foundation.

The five member board of the James Brown Music Education Foundation includes two of Mr. Brown's daughters, Yamma Brown-Lumar and Deanna Brown Thomas, as well as Charles Bobbit who was Mr. Brown's personal manager and long time friend, Fred Graver, Executive Producer, MTV Networks, and Frank Copsidas, President of Intrigue Music and Mr. Brown's manager for the last four years.

The James Brown Music Education Foundation is a not for profit foundation that has been set up by Joel A. Katz, Mr. Brown's long time legal counsel, of Greenberg Traurig's, LLP Atlanta Office who has been appointed as the foundation's legal counsel..

Tax deductible contributions to the fund should be sent to:

The James Brown Music Education Foundation
P.O. Box 460487
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346

Contact: Vicki Mazepa at 212-675-0755

VH1 will be running "James Browns Last Chance" on Wednesday, Dec 27th at 11:00am EST and 5pm EST and Friday Dec 29th at 1pm EST.

James Brown is a legend, known as much for his incredible music as for his wild, larger-than-life personality. VH1 followed Mr. Brown for one year, capturing him in all of his many facets and moods. We follow Brown as he mounts his comeback: an all-out attempt to resuscitate his reputation, recapture his audience, and regain his place in American Pop Culture as Soul Brother #1. VH1 gained unprecedented access to Mr. Brown and his world, including his new (and young - she's half his age) wife, Tommi Rae Brown; his manager, a man known to most as "SuperFrank," and his trusted 40-year associate, the ever patient Mr. Bobbit. We watch Brown on the grind of night-after-night performing. We see the road take its toll on Brown, and are reminded that we're watching a man in his 70th Year. Whether he's hitting the streets of Harlem, or arguing on the phone to get his credit card approved at a store in Rome, our travels with James are surprising, sometimes hilarious, and always entertaining. Including new interviews with Bootsy Collins, Paul Shaffer, and Dan Aykroyd.