But way before silver lame' button-down shirts and over-sized fedoras was The Godfather. Earlier on in his career, Soulbrother Number One James Brown sported velvet-collared three-piece suits with skinny drainpipe trousers. It was the classic soul singer style, also favored by other crooners of the time like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and the Miracles (as well as most members of the Motown line-up). But Brown personalized his get-ups by hemming the trousers flood-style (to show off every inch of his ankle boots) and adding a bit of dash in the form of leather overcoats. However, many people are more apt to recall the tight chest-baring jumpsuits, huge studded initial belts, and super-hero capes of Brown's wardrobe in the 1970's. When he sang, "Say it loud...", he made it a point to wear it loud as well.

James Brown

Sly Stone	"Wearing it loud" came just as naturally to Sylvester Stewart (that's Sly Stone to you and me). Sly and the Family Stone gained noteriety not only for their spirited blend of r&b, rock, gospel, and psychedelia but also for the fact that their band consisted of blacks and whites, men and women (imagine all those different types of people playing together in harmony...what a concept!). But what a colorful lot they were: the dandified printed shirts and candy stripes of drummer Greg Errico, the exaggerated preacher attire of bassist Larry Graham, Cynthia and Rose's go-go boots, ankle-length fringe, and outrageous wigs. Add to that the trippy fashion show that was Sly (who donned everything from satin rhinestone encrusted jumpsuits by Nudie Cohn to the tightest studded black leather pants ever imagined)
and what you've got is a dizzying array of styles that made the heads of most (white) people spin. According to Rickey Vincent, author of the book Funk, "The slang term far out was coined for the sole purpose of identifying Sly and the Family Stone".