December J-School graduate conducted last interview with music legend James Brown

2006 broadcast alumna Lindsay Tyner found out why journalists tend to save almost everything when music legend James Brown passed away.

Lyndsay had taped an interview with Brown on his 73rd birthday. The tape, she remembered, was still in a drawer at home.  

The rest of Lyndsay's story played out on NBC Nightly News, NBC stations across the country and on WXIA in Atlanta, as you can see here.

WXIA's veteran anchor Wes Sarginson called Lyndsay's interview with Brown "excellent...kind of a Columbo interview" that just drew more and more information from the Godfather of Soul.

Wes Side: Interviewing Greatness
Reported by Wes Sarginson, WXIA in Atlanta

Lindsay Tyner just graduated from Journalism school at the University of South Carolina and one of her last school projects was a rare interview with the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown on his 73rd birthday.

Tyner just returned home from a mission trip a week ago when she realized she had perhaps the last James Brown in-depth interview tucked away in a drawer in her home.

The rookie reporter was able to capture the essence of Brown in an interview at his home, something he rarely allowed, for his 73rd birthday.

Brown told Tyner, “We got to learn to love each other, we practiced it year ago, even though we had split societies, split communities, most people loved each other.”

“He was very down to earth, very nice, very welcoming, he didn’t talk down to me and he talked a lot about God. I had heard, ‘oh, he does drugs, been in prison,’ but he talked about prayer and how God changed his life,” reminisced Tyner.

Brown told Tyner that he was going to be a preacher, but he had a 30 minute audience with Pope John Paul. The Pope told Brown not to become a preacher, because the Church had rules, and Brown could change more hearts with his music, without the rules.

“So here I am and thank God for everything. The things that used to make me angry don’t make me angry no more. I just leave it with God and keep on going,” Brown said to Tyner.

Brown told Tyner Bach, Beethoven and Schubert wrote music in 2/4 time, but he did it in 1/3 time and changed everything.

“I came in with ‘Papa Got a Brand New Bag’ and that changed everything and the young people liked that better,” said Brown.

Today’s rappers that write music about violence and hate didn’t sit well with Brown, he said that was easy.

“I’m just glad that I’m able to make people happy, it’s hard, it’s hard,” said Brown.

Brown said music leaders needed to plant the seed well so that young people will grow better.

During the interview, Tyner said Brown seemed to sense the end was near.

“Well it was weird how it was [sort of] like an ending interview. He kept saying like, ‘I’ve had a good life’ and ‘I thank God for letting me do this’ and I even asked him how he wanted to be remembered,” remarked Tyner.

“As a man that tired to help somebody, when I got where I could help myself then the next thing is help somebody else. Be your brother’s keeper,” said Brown.

The essence and philosophy of the legendary James Brown was memorably captured by rookie reporter.

“Every day, I wake up and open my eyes. I say ‘thank God’ and I keep my Bible open, I believe in it,” said Brown.

There will be a public wake for Brown at 9 a.m. Saturday in Augusta. A public memorial service will be held directly after at 1 p.m.

Brown will be buried in Augusta on Saturday.