<P> The early songs, most of which Byrd participated with the exception of "Try Me", featured Byrd and contributed a great deal to establishing Brown's career before he finally became a full - fledged solo artist with the release of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" in 1965 . Though Brown asserted himself as the full - fledged leader, he was still just a member of the Flames until that group left him in 1968 . In addition, it was Byrd who later saved Brown's career numerous times, starting with him returning to the Famous Flames at Brown's request after the group's initial breakup in 1957, helping him to coach the re-formed group, re-joining them at that point, and later hiring Bootsy and Phelps Collins to back Brown up in 1970 and who co-produced the hit recording, "Sex Machine", later helping with other artists on People Records . In the Famous Flames' Rock & Roll Hall of Fame page, Byrd is regarded as "one of the more important auxiliary figures in the career of a major artist in music history ." </P> <P> In October 2004 Bobby Byrd's songs "I Know You Got Soul" and "Hot Pants" were featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station Master Sounds 98.3 . In September 2005 his song "Try It Again" appeared on the soundtrack of Indigo Prophecy .' </P> <P> Byrd was portrayed by actor Nelsan Ellis in the 2014 James Brown bio film Get on Up . </P> <P> In 1986 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials announced that James Brown would be included in a list of the first nine musicians to be inducted by the organization . Due to his contributions to the industry and his influence on the R&B, Soul, and Funk Music genres, it was only fitting that Brown would be part of this initial group . However, James Brown did not meet the Hall of Fame's criteria for induction at that time which required an artist to have released their first single as a solo artist at least 25 years prior to induction . Brown's first solo release in 1965 was only 21 years before, although Brown had been active in the industry and released songs as part of The Famous Flames prior to 1965 . For Brown to be inducted by the organization in 1986, inclusion of the other members of The Famous Flames was required . It's unknown as to why this oversight occurred but it's been surmised that the organization felt Brown's solo work warranted his induction at the Hall of Fame's initial ceremonies . </P>

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