“The Godfather of Soul” recorded one of his most famous hits here in Charlotte. “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” is widely considered the first song to showcase what would become Brown’s signature musical style featuring a blaring horn section. It also marked the birth of funk.
Brown recorded “Papa” in February 1965 at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte. Arthur Smith was a country music guitarist known for a style called guitar boogie. He was a famed performer, and radio personality. In 1957, he opened the first recording studio in the Carolinas on Monroe Road.
Smith told WNEW.com that Brown and the Famous Flames recorded “Papa” in just two takes. The song was released as a two-part single, and became Brown’s his first song to reach the Billboard Top 10.
