Guardian Music — Friends talk of shock and sadness after host of US TV show Soul Train found dead in apparent suicide at age of 75Don Cornelius, the host of the hit US TV show Soul Train, which helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of black culture ... more info

Dlisted — It's one thing to wake up to the news that Don Cornelius has strut up to heaven at the age of 75, but it's another hearing that you got there after he apparently committed suicide. And on the first day of Black History Month. Damn. Damn. Da... more info

Guardian Music — Filadelfiakyrkan, StockholmD'Angelo is no stranger to spells of absence from the spotlight; since starting out in the early 90s, the "prince of soul" has only released two albums, with a 15-year gap between 1995's Brown Sugar and the follow-up, Voodo... more info

Guardian Music — You called out your favourite tracks for this week's topic. Now it's our turn to respondWhat is call-and-response? What's that? I can't hear you! Yes, that's right, it's a technique commonly used by live bands to connect with their audience. For this... more info

Guardian Music — James Brown was nearing the end of his creative life when he threw down the gauntlet to the young pretendersRapp Payback is less a song than a full frontal assault on the senses. Recorded in 1980, when James Brown's best work was behind him, it has a... more info

Guardian Music — These Norwegians are that rare thing: a twisted pop sensation that lives up to the hypeHometown: Oslo, Norway.The lineup: Turid Solberg, Bjarne Gustaven and Andreas Knudsrød.The background: Our interest in Philco Fiction was piqued by the advance pr... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Charles Bradley in Fort Greene Park in 2011 (more by BBG) Before Charles Bradley released his excellent debut LP on Daptone Records last year, he performed under the name Black Velvet as a James Brown impersonator. On January 28 at... more info

Guardian Music — From James Brown to Martin Carthy, the best festive tunes don't always have to spread Christmas cheerFor the past five years, rather than cards, I've given family, friends and colleagues an annual CD of Christmas music. I sometimes wish I'd never sta... more info

KEXP Seattle — Popular R&B artist James Brown invented funk music by changing the accents and voicings in soul music. He released the first known funk single, “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag,” in 1965. This new kind of music drew from gospel, jazz and R&B and wou... more info

The Hip Hop Chronicle — Faith SFX rocked the crowd at Club Talk down in Southend.   more info