Fans Gather To Mourn James Brown

'Godfather of Soul' Remembered From Coast To Coast

(CBS/AP)  The James Brown statue on Broad Street, his hometown, was draped in an American flag and a red scarf Tuesday as several dozen people gathered to pay their respects to the late singer.

Flowers were left at the base of the statue in tribute to Brown, who died Monday in Atlanta. He was 73.

One fan, John Arthur Thomas, 73, of Daleville, Alabama, said he had stopped by the statue because Brown was a legend and had "done a lot of things from the heart to help people."

"There were some troubled times in his life, like everybody else, but he meant well," Thomas said. "He is a legend. There will never be another James Brown."

Consuelo Miller, 32, of Syracuse, New York, whose husband is stationed at a nearby U.S. Army base, came to the statue with her son and stepdaughter.

"I just wanted to bring the kids down here to let them see a great star," Miller said. "He is the Godfather of Soul."

Brown remained the hardest working man in show business to the end, telling friends from his hospital bed that he would be in Times Square to perform on New Year's Eve, even though he had pneumonia.

His heart gave out a few hours later, on Christmas morning.

All Christmas day, famous fans from Mick Jagger to Snoop Dogg to the Rev. Al Sharpton shared memories of their mentor and idol, while lesser known fans left candles on Brown's Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles and streamed to his statue in Augusta.

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Photos: The Godfather Of Soul
Listen: CBS News' Jim Taylor on James Brown's legacy

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The 73-year-old pompadoured dynamo, whose classic singles include "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)," died of heart failure less than two days after he had been hospitalized with pneumonia and only three days after leading his annual holiday toy giveaway in Augusta.

The entertainer with the rough-edged voice and flashy footwork also had diabetes and prostate cancer that was in remission. But he initially seemed fine at the hospital and talked about his New Year's Eve show at B.B. King Blues Club near Times Square in New York, said his agent, Frank Copsidas.

"Last night, he said, 'I'm going to be there. I'm the hardest working man in show business,"' Copsidas said Monday.

"We're planning to book another artist," the club's publicist, Rena Siwek told The Showbuzz, adding that they will make the announcement Wednesday.

James Browns musical legacy will live on.

[groupleader]

May the blessings of the almighty find find a place for someone such as he.

[ndg1979]

To the GODFATHER OF SOUL:

We never met and never will.
I grew up recently with a generation living in a changed America.
You grew up with a past generation that changed America.
I played a musical instrument.
You sang vocals.

We were different in many more ways, but we both had something in common - we were Americans bound together by American music - YOUR MUSIC.

We all have or had a purpose on this earth, and that is and was to build and not to destroy. If any person hears and remembers your music, then your purpose is that our musical soul has been fulfilled. Believe me, you have done just that.

It is now time to serve and entertain a higher calling.

GOD BLESS JAMES BROWN.

[conniejean49]

I remember James Brown back when he was with the Famous Flames - late 50's. I'm not sure of his first hit, but I remember "I Feel Good (I knew that I would") and some other great R&B. This was even BEFORE soul. He is a fabulous singer/entertainer and he will be missed.

[olebd]

He's one of those characters you expected would be around forever physically. His music will live well beyond all of us.

[zhucolins]

I am a chinese ,though I don't know who is James Browns and who is he in American mind, I know he had made a great influence toAmerican, particularly to the black people.

"Godfather of soul" will be alive for ever in our mind!

colin
[e-mail]

[Truestar50]

James Brown is one of my Idols.I had the pleasure playing bass with him back in the eighties.His musical influences changed the course of modern music today.He borrowed from no one.It strictly came from the soul.I feel like I've lost a father.As people, we come and go,but what we leave behind sometimes last forever.his music did just that.Today is a sad day for me and others.We love you Mr. Brown.........The Mitchell Blues Bad

[mickgabe]

I can remember in the early 60's going to school in Florida. On friday nights we would go to an all Black Nightclub outside of what is now Disneyworld, (Holopaw Junction) just see Ja,es and his Origanal Flames. This is where e coined him "The Little Man on Wheels". The highlight of hom being onstage with a crowd of many 30 people was being able to dance with Lovely Black Ladies, whom had "The Soul" in their dance.

Just a White Honky from Florida

[wisdom111]

James Brown was a blessing to humanity and will be sorely missed. I truly admired and respected James Brown. He lived the American dream to the fullest and never forgot his early roots. Many persons benfited from his generosity and love for humanity.

[rashedah]

James Brown will be remembered for his music and his showmanship. He was a very lively, upbeat entertainer, and as his one of his many songs would say "I Got the Feeling". Rest in Peace James Brown, you deserve it.

[jonnie0120]

As a promoter and booking agent, I had the opportunity to see James Brown perform all of my life. I also had the chance to meet his children, visit his radio station, and become a friend of his manager, Mr. Charles Bobbit. We have lost a great humanitarian. Now James Brown is the legend in "Soul Heaven"! - - Jonnie Johnson

[thgdriver]

The rock and roll heaven band just got better!!!

"The music out there is only as good as my last record,"

That's not a joke, It says it all!

My condolences to his family, friends and fans,
we will miss him a lot!

[nothappyatall]

"Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia "

"Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said. "

Um... maybe not real obvious to Copsidas, but he had pneumonia and pneumonia in an older person especially is often fatal, it was the pneumonia that killed him, pretty obvious.

[staff2--2008]

thanx for giving the world your music...I'll always think of you when I sing 'I feel good'...

[lilchocnsc]

I am a die hard Rollerskater...and grew up listening to his music. It is the music that m inspires me the most, and what I enjoy listenifg to when I am on my wheels.

James Brown will be missed.

[hober_mallow]

You never heard of James Brown described as the 'self-proclaimed Godfather of Soul', or the 'self-proclaimed Hardest Working Man in Show Business'.
No. His fans and peers recognised his talents and gave James Brown those well-earned monikers.
James Brown had more talent in his little finger than most 'performers' these days will have during their entire careers.
I hope that James Brown is up in heaven singing and jamming with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[hober_mallow]

You never heard of James Brown described as the 'self-proclaimed Godfather of Soul', or the 'self-proclaimed Hardest Working Man in Show Business'.
No. His fans and peers recognised his talents and gave James Brown those well-earned monikers.
James Brown had more talent in his little finger than most 'performers' these days will have during their entire careers.
I hope that James Brown is up in heaven singing and jamming with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[charlemaine1]

James Brown's in the hot-tub...hot! Hot! In the hot-tub.
Bye Godfather of Soul, you've made the angels wait long enough to get down in tha hot tub........

[kailumego1]

I am heartbroken, I truly loved this man, he had had an enormous influence on so many entertainers, from Michael Jackson, Prince, Justin Timberlake, New Edition, New Kids on the Block, etc, etc. You can see his %u201Cfancy foot work%u201D in their choreography, and Prince has always given homage to this musical legend. James Brown was an Icon; it%u2019s a shame that this generation of black entertainers has not kept the spirit of R&B alive. White entertainers has always revered black music and mimicked its rhythm and style in their routines, in which they have absolutely no problem with giving credit where its do. However, this new generation of black entertainers has intentionally shied away from their historical roots, many frown upon this musical style, of which they have sampled certain lyrical phrases, using it as background in their compositions. But, its musical greats like James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, the Planters, the Temptations, etc, that had given them their start. We lost Luther Vandross and Barry White, now James Brown, if this generation of black entertainers don%u2019t pick up the pace, we will have absolutely nothing to contribute to the future generations, like those before us.

[lovegurl-2009]

Wow!! I was so shocked to hear of his death. When I heard it I literally screamed. It's a very untimely death for him. I mean he was 73 years old but doesn't look it. I thought that he was going to live to be in his 80's. He was a very great singer of soul and he does deserve the title "Godfather of Soul." He made great music in his time. I just can't believe that he's really gone, especially on Christmas morning.

[swwils]

I am surprised he lived that long.He was an admitted cocaine user for over 50 years.I had friends die that didn't use a forth the drugs he did.I did like his performances even though they were fuled by drugs.

[brokenfeathe]

MET THE GODFATHER many times throughout his career. Saw him at the Royal Theather in Baltimore, Md in the late 50's. Remember they had to turn the light out to get him to stop playing at the HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL. I have his music and lots of memories.

[rwprice1]

I would like everyone to remember that James Brown was a courageous civil rights leader that put his life on the line for his people, in his way, during the height of the civil rights movement. The pioneering lyrics to "Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud" and "Open up the Door, I'll get it Myself" was a battle cry that rallied Dr. King, Malcolm X, Rev. Jackson and others to follow his bold lead to stand up for our rights. How about his stand on education? It is sad, that the media(CBS included)is so driven by mediocre tabliod news, that during this mornings report(12-26-06) it was more important to show the worst day of his life; while missing several important historic facts about Mr. Brown which directly contributed to civil rights for Blacks in this country. What kind of news reporting is that CBS?!?!
However, I and millions of African Americans remember because we were there and lived it. James Brown was willing to to put his life on the line during countless concert tours in the deep South, during the 60s. He skillfully redesigned the art of music and performance in this nation, while voluntarily serving as the Paul Revere of the civil rights movement. He and Rosa Parks played on the same team; so, as our young people say, "give him his props!"
So I'm not sad today at his passing; I'm proud of you James, Soul Brother #1, and honored to have seen and witnessed the life of an icon of your stature.

[donnie56]

one song mr. brown recorded, but is not mentioned and the lyrics always puzzled me, coming from him, event though i did agree with them is "How You Gonna Get Respect, When You Haven't Cut Your Process Yet." Yet he keep his hair permed and semi-long. However, I admired him, because not many entertainers, black at that, during the civil rights movement, but their contracts and future on the line speaking out politically encouraging black america to respect their blackness. back in the day, for you young people, who may not know, many people were ashamed to be called black, and would fight anyone who called them black or said we came from africa. and you had better not be a black female with short hair, you were really in trouble. however james brown encouraged us to say it loud, "I'M BLACK, AND I'M PROUD!!!!!!!!!!
DONNIE312.

[thgdriver]

I read a few posts that went into the amount of drugs he used. Who cares, I know I don't, it's none of my business, besides, if the goverment were to tune out all the music put out by entertainers that use that stuff we would think all our electronic gadgets were broke.

[msab4]

To the Brown family I am so sorry 4 your lost.I am a BIG fan of James Brown. Xmas was a very sad day for all afro american. I couldn't believed it instead of playing Xmas music I had a James Brown day. I did play his Xmas (tape) that's old santa claus go straight to the getto! Mr. Dyamite/The Hardest Working Man In Show Buisness/Soul Brother #1/The Godfather/The Legend Of Soul Music/You will never be 4gotten May You Rest IN Peace.We Your Fans Love You BuT God Love You More!! Stay On The Good Foot!!!!!

[msab4]

I am so sadden for James Brown passing. I lost my grandmom a wk bfore the the king of soul.I have been on the computer since his passing saving all the pictures on my desktop and slideshow leave my computer on so when i come hm or just enter my living rm I want to c James Brown face.I wanna thank the Brown family his kids 4 sharing their father with the world your father is a legend and was is very loved by his black afro american. Will NO Can No ONe Take His PLace He is the GODFATHER OF SOUL!!!!!!! My Prayers To The Brown Family I lost my mom 9 yrs ago I know what you going through just keep your head up it's hard believe it or not as time go by it will get easier.SAY IT LOUD I AM A BLACK SISTA AND I AM VERY PROUD!!!!!!!