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HEP ME! - 'Godfather of Soul' James Brown dies
ATLANTA -James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.
Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said.
Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style.
If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.
Crowd Power
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Edmund Jenks
Los Angeles, California, United States





Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 10:56 on December 25th, 2006
We got your breaking news submission. It should be up shortly on our home page. I'd appreciate it if you could follow this story for future developments, and, if it turns out your story is in any way inaccurate, could you please make the necessary corrections. At any rate, thanks so much for keeping your eye on the news!
Link to Wikipedia bio, NYTimes Coverage here and check out some links to vintage video of him in performance on boing boing here including a 5 hour christmas special on him from a few years back and a recording he made called "christmas in heaven"
at 10:03 on December 26th, 2006
Your story is now on the home page for awhile, and everywhere else the “good stuff” box shows up.