Godfather of soul finally rests

By PAUL DONSKY, BO EMERSON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/26/06

James Brown was known as the "hardest-working man in show business." That legendary work ethic may have contributed to his death.

Brown, 73, died in Atlanta early Monday morning of congestive heart failure related to pneumonia, according to his entertainment lawyer Joel Katz. Several friends and associates said Brown had struggled with a cold in recent weeks, but he pressed on with a demanding schedule.

Charles Bobbit, James Brown's personal manager, speaks in Atlanta after Brown's Christmas Day death. He said the singer felt bad for weeks but wouldn't slow down despite warnings.


Funeral arrangements will probably be made today, when Brown's family members plan to meet with officials at C.A. Reid funeral home in Augusta, said Charlie Reid, the funeral home's manager.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, a longtime close friend of Brown's, is expected to preside over the funeral service, according to Brown's managers.

Sharpton will be in Atlanta on Tuesday, broadcasting his syndicated show live from 1 to 4 p.m. on Grown Folks Radio 102.5, according to a Radio One executive. He is expected to talk about Brown.

The passing on Christmas Day of the man called the Godfather of Soul touched friends and fans across the country. The maker of such hits as "Say it Loud ( I'm Black and I'm Proud)" "Make It Funky" and "Living in America," Brown was remembered for a unique style that ultimately influenced decades of American music.

"James Brown's legacy is one of the greatest. He crossed all boundaries of music and people. He was soul, funk, rock and roll and hip-hop," said hip-hop personality Greg Street of radio station V-103. "When you can go from impacting the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Eric B & Rakim to every hip-hop producer —that's incredible!"

Rapper, producer and part-time Atlantan Chuck D of Public Enemy, agreed: "He's like Muhammad Ali to music. He made his social statements. He made things funky. He was the sex machine. And everything rap music is today has to draw an homage to him."

Brown's death was noted beyond music circles, from the president to hometown fans.

President Bush on Monday described Brown as "an American original."

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Brown "was dramatic to the end — dying on Christmas Day. ... He'll be all over the news all over the world today. He would have it no other way."

At the bronze statue erected in his honor on James Brown Plaza in his hometown of Augusta, a steady stream of citizens stopped by to pay their respects on the gray, wet Christmas afternoon.

James Brown, they agreed, put Augusta on the map.

"More often than people say 'the Masters' they say 'James Brown,' when they think of Augusta," said Chris Pair, as his girlfriend Robin Russell left a bracelet on the bronze figure — either as a Christmas gift or a going-away present.

Ruby Banks, in town for the holiday, stopped by the statue before heading back to Brooklyn. "A lot of spirit is going to be gone," said Banks, 70, who saw Brown perform at the Apollo in New York and grew up around the corner from Brown's Augusta neighborhood.

"If you get up in the morning and you can't go to work, you put on some James Brown. I guarantee you, you will move," said Banks.

Katz, Brown's personal manager Charles Bobbit and other longtime associates said Brown had been sick for some time, perhaps since returning from Europe in November. Brown's last performance was Nov. 14 in London, where the soul singer was inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame.

In recent days, "he didn't look good," Bobbit said. "He was coughing with a lot of noise."

But Brown continued a busy schedule. He handed out Christmas gifts to low-income children on Friday in Augusta, and on Saturday traveled to Atlanta, where he was to be fitted with new dental implants. Brown planned to hit the road again Tuesday.

"When he felt bad, he wouldn't tell you," Bobbit said. "He would go to work, he'd be a work machine."

Terry Reynolds, an oral surgeon in Atlanta who had worked with Brown for years, said the singer arrived several hours late for a 1 p.m. Saturday appointment looking "very bad, just weak and dazed."

Brown's teeth had been replaced more than 20 years ago with dental implants. Implants are an alternative to dentures or bridges. They are expensive and require oral surgery, as an artificial tooth root is placed in the jaw to hold a replacement tooth.

Over the last several months, Brown was in the process of replacing the old implants with new ones. Reynolds said he advised Brown to slow down and let the dental work heal, but Brown insisted on keeping a busy schedule.

Bobbit had arranged for a doctor to meet Brown at the dentist's Peachtree Street office. From there, Brown was taken to Crawford Long Hospital, Bobbit said. Doctors there said it was likely Brown would have to miss his next few shows. (He had shows scheduled through August of 2007)

Once the severity of Brown's condition became clear, his managers decided to cancel two upcoming shows — Wednesday in Waterbury, Conn., and Thursday in Englewood, N.J.

But Brown declared he would not miss a New Year's Eve gig in New York's Times Square at B.B. King's Blues Club.

"I am the hardest-working man in show business, and I will be there on New Year's Eve," Brown said, according to the entertainer's agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music, who spoke at a news conference in Atlanta on Monday afternoon.

But Bobbit recounted that as Christmas Eve wore on, Brown said at one point, "I'm going away tonight."

At about 1:45 a.m. Christmas morning, Bobbit said Brown "sat down on the bed, laid back on the foot of the bed, and sighed three times. Then he closed his eyes and he was dead."

link

RIP, an inspiration to many

Rest in peace to him. He is a legend and will be missed by many. Great music great music...

Heck of a talented singer. Thoughts and prayers are definitely with him tonight.

RIP MR Brown.

RIP Godfather.

They can say it was his work that killed him but we all know it was that fine white powder and excessive partying that kicked his ass. It always comes back to get ya.