Chuck Brown, also known as "The Godfather of Go-go," was an influential musician and bandleader from Washington, D.C. He was born on August 22, 1936, in Gaston, North Carolina, and moved to D.C. at a young age. Brown's musical career began in the 1960s as a guitarist, and he played with various jazz and R&B bands.
Magic plantern lamp
Apparently, in the middle of the Twentieth Century, the plantern was born. The what? It is a lamp with a planter in the base. It was made such that you could turn on the lamp via touch of the lamp shade or by touching the leaves of the plant in the planter. A capacitive touch plate is placed in the planter bottom, providing the touch conduction to the lamp (likely it would help to have a plant that likes a moist soil).
We couldn’t find any current lamps for sale, but apparently they are still manufactured and they come up on online auction sites and other places.
This would make a great maker project. Note that isolation of the mains power from the switch circuitry would be crucial to avoid electric shock hazards. Perhaps a lower voltage LED (NeoPixel) lamp circuit. And most microcontrollers can do capacitive touch.
If you look to recreate this project, post your results on forums.adafruit.com.
You can see lamp planters (planterns) at:
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Brown's musical career began in the 1960s as a guitarist, and he played with various jazz and R&B bands. However, it was in the 1970s that Chuck Brown became a local legend with the creation of the go-go genre. Go-go music is a unique blend of funk, soul, and R&B, characterized by a strong percussion section and call-and-response vocals.
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7 Steps to Turning Your Plant into a Lamp
Ever feel like your home needs a little more 'life'? Living, breathing houseplants radiate life and vibrancy. In this DIY, the world of living plants and lighting collide. There are dedicated plant or flower pot lamp making kits available to make this an easy and safe project. The hardest part for some may be keeping the plant alive! But I have some tips for that, too.
What You'll Need:
- A ceramic or glass container for the base. I used a blue glass vase I had at home
- A lamp kit specially designed for pot plants, like this Flower Pot Lamp Kit from Amazon
- A drill and 3/8"bit. If your container is ceramic, you'll need a masonry drill bit. If your container is glass, you'll need a diamond drill bit
- A plant that requires low drainage. I used a small ivy plant, but succulents would work very well
- Activated charcoal. I used Hoffman Charcoal Soil Conditioner from Amazon
- Potting mix
- An assortment of rocks or broken pottery
- Safety equipment - gloves and safety glasses since you'll be working with glass
How to Make Your Lamp
Step One: Drill a hole in the container
Mark the center of the base of your container. Attach the diamond drill bit and start drilling. Tip: drilling through glass is hard work and you'll need to keep the tip cool and lubricated with water. Pause every couple of minutes to splash on some fresh water. You'll notice in these photos white stuff. that's ground-up glass. This can be quite a long process, especially if the glass is thick. Don't get so impatient that you try and force it at the end and smash through the whole thing and ruin it. (bitter? me?)
Step Two: Put together the lamp
Here are all the goodies that are in the Flower Pot Lamp Kit . The instructions lack detail so I'll walk you through it!
Step Three: Assemble the pipe
Start by threading on a washer, then a locknut, to the pipe. Push the pipe into your container and then thread on another washer and locknut. Tighten on both ends.
Pro Tip: At this point, you'll want to waterproof your container. Some water may seep in between the hole and the washers. I caulked around the fittings both inside and outside the vase. Water and electricity don't mix well.
Step Four: Wire up
If you've wired a lamp before, this will be easy for you. If it's your first time, follow the steps below (it'll be easy for you too!)
Thread on the harp base and the bottom of the socket. Separate the two wire ends and create an 'underwriters knot', a compact knot that allows the wires to sit snugly in the socket. See how the two wires are slightly different - one has ribs on the outside and one is smooth.
Grab the main part of the socket and wrap the end of the ribbed (neutral) wire clockwise around the silver screw terminal. You may need to loosen the screw first. Wrap the end of the smooth (hot) wire around the brass screw terminal. Tighten the screws so all the wire is under the screw head.
Insert the outer socket shell with its cardboard liner on top. Snap the outer shell in place over the socket base by twisting and jiggling. You'll know it's in place when you hear some clicks and it feels secure.
Thread the socket base onto the pipe.
Brown's band, The Soul Searchers, became widely known for their energetic live performances, which often lasted for several hours without breaks. One of Chuck Brown's most well-known songs is "Bustin' Loose," released in 1978. The song became an instant hit and is considered a go-go classic. Its popularity led to a major-label record deal for Brown and The Soul Searchers, and they released several successful albums throughout the 1980s. Chuck Brown's influence on the D.C. music scene cannot be overstated. His music provided a unique sound that captured the spirit and energy of the city. He was not only a talented musician but also a beloved figure in the community. Brown's music brought people together, transcending racial and cultural boundaries. Sadly, Chuck Brown passed away on May 16, 2012, at the age of 75. However, his legacy lives on through his music and the numerous artists he influenced. His contributions to the go-go genre continue to inspire musicians and entertain audiences to this day. In conclusion, Chuck Brown was a pioneering musician and bandleader who created the go-go genre and became a beloved figure in the Washington, D.C., community. His music and energetic live performances left a lasting impact on the D.C. music scene, and he will always be remembered as "The Godfather of Go-go.".
Reviews for "Chuck Brown: The Man Who Revolutionized Go-go Music"
1. Sophie - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Chuck Brown Mr. Magic". The plot was all over the place and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The pacing was extremely slow and I lost interest halfway through. The acting was also subpar, with some of the actors appearing wooden and lacking emotion. Overall, it felt like a poorly executed film that didn't live up to its potential.
2. Mike - 1 star
"Chuck Brown Mr. Magic" was a complete waste of time. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and the story made no sense. It felt like the filmmakers were trying too hard to be quirky and unique, but it just came off as pretentious and confusing. The cinematography was also lackluster, with uninspired shots that failed to capture any kind of emotion. Save yourself the trouble and skip this movie.
3. Lisa - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Chuck Brown Mr. Magic" but it fell flat for me. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed and left me feeling unsatisfied. The pacing was also an issue, with certain scenes dragging on for far too long. Overall, it was a forgettable film that didn't leave a lasting impression.