“Sweet” Charles Sherrell was a bassist in James Brown’s (1933–2006) band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing on hits including “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud.”
- Died: March 29, 2023 (Who else died on March 29?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting emphysema at the age of 80.
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“Sweet” Charles Sherrell’s legacy
Sherrell played bass in Aretha Franklin’s (1942–2018) band for a brief period before joining the JBs, Brown’s backing band, in 1968, just as Brown’s sound was evolving from his early R&B to the funk music he helped shape. Sherrell’s bass was an integral and influential part of that style. He pioneered thumping on bass strings, a foundational funk technique later used by other bassists like Bootsy Collins. Though Sherrell only stayed with the JBs through 1970, he was a part of some of Brown’s most memorable recordings, including the No. 1 hits “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “Give it Up or Turnit a Loose,” and “Mother Popcorn.”
After leaving the JBs, Sherrell released one solo album, 1974’s “For Sweet People from Sweet Charles.” He returned to the JBs in the mid-1970s, serving as the band’s music director. Sherrell also played bass with other musicians including Al Green and Maceo Parker.
Tributes to “Sweet” Charles Sherrell
Full obituary: Soul Tracks
