Go-Go chief entertains at Parkdale

Music legend Chuck Brown encourages students

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Allison Pasek⁄The Gazette Godfather of Go-Go legend Chuck Brown performs with the Parkdale High School Band after giving an inspirational talk encouraging students to stay in school and to avoid getting into trouble.

After his speech that also focused on the wisdom of good decisions, Brown put on an impromptu performance in the auditorium. The school band accompanied Brown and the music put students and staff in a dancing mode.

‘‘I’ve had award after award and all kinds of recognition but this is the warmest vibe I have felt my entire career,” Brown said.

Assistant Principal Courtney King said the event allowed the students, who were already familiar with Brown’s musical work, to get to know the man behind the music.

Brown, credited as the godfather of Go-Go music, warned students that the path he took to success was not easy – one they could avoid if they made smarter decisions than he did at their age.

‘‘I came up the hard way. I left school at a young age for what sounds silly now,” he said.

‘‘When the kids laughed at me, I used these [raises fists] and got in trouble. I got my high school diploma in Lorton. That’s a prison.”

Brown’s message touched senior Theresa Wenja.

‘‘I definitely got the part where he was telling us to listen to our teachers and parents and not to do something that would get us into a bad situation,” she said. ‘‘We have to do what we know is right.”

Brown thanked the students for keeping him motivated during his presentation. ‘‘I appreciate that you all gave me this opportunity to be here. You all are the ones that keep me focused and young.”

Acting Principal David Burton said Brown’s visit was a welcome change for the students.

‘‘He’s been known through the generations and we wanted to have someone speak to them that they know and love,” Burton said. ‘‘It provides a different vibe for them from what we normally have here.”

Following his remarks, Brown took questions from the students that centered on his musical influences, his motivation and how he created the go-go sound.

‘‘It was unbelievable,” said senior Chris Horton. ‘‘It’s not everyday we get to see celebrities and this was my first time seeing someone famous. When I went up there, my heart was beating.

‘‘He’s a real good model. I thank him for making Go-Go because without it we wouldn’t be able to party like we do.”

As Brown made his way around the auditorium many of the students surrounded him to get a picture on their cellular phones.

‘‘Once you get me started, it’s hard to get me unstarted,” Brown said, after concluding a rousing piece of music.

‘‘His manager told us he never [performs when he speaks] so he surprised us but you know how convincing students can be,” Burton said.

Senior Justin Shields, the Student Government Association president, said he heard a lot about Brown from his parents and grandparents but seeing him performing live was a real treat.

‘‘It was a very good experience,” Shields said. ‘‘It was one of those once in a lifetime moments. It was the best. You don’t get to see someone like him perform every day.”

E-mail Jeffrey K. Lyles at jlyles@gazette.net.