WASHINGTON (CNN/WJLA) -- The death of Go-Go pioneer Chuck Brown resonated with fans, Wednesday night. Brown died Wednesday at the age of 75. Fans quickly moved to celebrate his life.
For four decades, he played his music and it became their music. And they came from around the area to the Howard to celebrate the life of a D.C. icon: Chuck Brown. They danced, they reminisced; everybody had a story. Fan Luis Cardona says, "It's all about the celebration of his legacy, what he meant for us, the happiness and joy he brought to us..."
Fan Vance Davis says, "I am a Chuckahaolic to my heart. Love that man."
These people loved Chuck, and Chuck loved them, too. When WJLA followed him around D.C., his fans mobbed him. He made jokes about all the attention. He says, "I love taking pictures and signing autographs, 'cause there was a time 55-years ago, the only people who took pictures of me was the police."
He said he grew up shining shoes on the streets of D.C., ended up in Lorton Prison, where for a few cartons of cigarettes, another inmate made him a guitar, and when chuck got out, he invented something called go-go, D.C.'s beat. He says, "So happy and thrilled. My fans, they the ones just keep me going, these beautiful young people you have in D.C. and Maryland, Virginia, of course. I can't ask for no more."
In the crowd were a city councilwoman; chuck's daughter, Cherita Whiting; and fellow go-goer Sugar Bear. Sugar Bear says, "We've lost something that D.C. can never replace. It's just like the Redskins. As big as the Redskins: Chuck Brown."
So they're celebrating a life. Right here along this part of 7th is also called chuck brown way.
Chuck Brown's passing comes about a week after the Washington Post confirmed that the 75-year-old musician had been hospitalized with pneumonia.