Charles Emanuel Sherrell (1943 – 2023)

Sweet Charles was a member of James Brown‘s famed back-up band the JBs. From Nashville, Tennessee, he took guitar lessons from Jimi Hendrix and Curtis Mayfield (in exchange for washing Mayfield‘s’ car). He played bass for James Brown (Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud is one) and is credited for introducing new percussive techniques to the Funk bass.

Two solo albums: For Sweet People from Sweet Charles (1974) and Sweet Charles Sherrell Universal Love (2017).

Interview with Sweet Charles:

Sherrell’s family posted the following after his passing on his Facebook page:

Charles has hung in there amazingly long in good spirits battling lung emphysema, but his heart couldn’t cope anymore.

“I’m having no pain or nothing, just shortness of breath. There are people much worse off than I am. I’ve had a wonderful life. Love my family, love my true friends who stuck by me till the end.

Thank you.

May god bless you.“