It was a celebration befitting a man called the Godfather of go-go.
More than an hour before Howard Theatre’s doors opened Tuesday for the viewing of D.C. music legend Chuck Brown, a line of people snaked out front, T-shirt vendors set up camp and the buzz of the crowd occasionally crescendoed with chants of “wind me up, Chuck!”
And even as the 90-degree heat beat down on the growing line — which wound around the corner by noon — the party atmosphere continued. Inside the theater, Brown’s cool persona was preserved as the open casket viewing showed him decked out in his trademark fedora and sunglasses.
“He was a good spirit,” said Denise Hill, who was waiting in line with her mom, Shieyane, who said she had grown up with Brown.
In fact, everyone in line, it seemed, had some personal experience with the go-go king, who died this month at the age of 75, whether it was sneaking out of the house to catch a concert, working with him or knowing him personally.
“He’s a wonderful guy, gracious and kind … and funny as hell,” said Darrell Johnson, who helped produce the 1988 record “D.C. Don’t Stand for Dodge City” featuring Brown and other go-go musicians of the time.
The all-day viewing opened to the public at 11 a.m., after a private viewing session for family and city officials. Mayor Vincent Gray attended the public viewing and shook hands with the steady stream of mourners for an hour and a half as they passed by Brown’s open casket.
“Chuck was a good friend of mine, and he did so much for so many,” Gray said later. “It’s just nice to see that people are coming back now to say, ‘Thank you, Chuck, for what you did for this city.’ ”
Most city officials came for the private viewing because of hearings being held later in the day at city hall.
At-large Councilman Michael Brown said he’s been listening to Chuck Brown’s music since he was 10 years old and later got to know him as a friend with a carefree sense of humor.
“I attended all three of his 50th birthday parties,” Brown said with a laugh. “[That’s] the thing about Chuck — he was an ageless wonder, and he surely will be missed.”
Jacob Demmitt contributed to this report.
