James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, died in an Atlanta hospital on Christmas morning at the age of 73. He died of heart failure brought on by pneumonia. Brown had diabetes and also suffered from prostate cancer which was in remission.

His death was unexpected and he was scheduled to play in BB King’s Blues Club in NY this New Years. Until he took a turn for the worse, his doctor told him he could make the performance. He was accompanied at the hospital by his close friend, Charles Bobbit.

Mr. Copsidas [Brown’s rep] told The Associated Press that doctors do not know what caused the pneumonia, only that Mr. Brown’s illness was discovered by his dentist during a recent appointment in Atlanta. Mr. Brown had diabetes, and he also had prostate cancer that was in remission, Mr. Bobbit said.

Mr. Brown initially seemed to be fine when he was in the hospital and had even told people that he planned to be back on stage for the New Year’s Eve performance, Mr. Copsidas said.

Mr. Bobbit said Mr. Brown grew progressively worse as time passed.

“He had a cold and cough for some time, but he started coughing bad in the last few days,” Mr. Bobbit said.

He added, “The doctor we spoke to that was treating him said we could not do the first couple of shows but that there was a possibility if he got much better and could handle it we could be at B.B. King’s for the New Year’s Eve show,” Mr. Bobbit said.

Brown was from Augusta, Georgia and is known for his good works in his hometown. He gave out Turkeys every Thanksgiving and was just at his 15th annual Christmas present giveaway last Friday. The mayor expressed shock that he had passed away as he seemed fine during the charity event.

James Brown had 98 hits on the R&B top 40 singles chart, well more than any other artist. His career spans five decades and his unique hip-swaying funk style has influenced music of all genres. In the late 80s, hip hop artists started sampling James Brown and his work was seminal in early rap hits like Eric B and Rakim’s “I Know you Got Soul,” and Kid ‘n Play’s “Rolling with Kid ‘n Play.” James Brown was sampled extensively on the Public Enemy album “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.”

Many funk stars including Bootsy Collins and Maceo Parker got their start in Brown’s band.

Unfortunately Brown’s reputation as a humanitarian and the hardest working man in showbusiness is overshadowed by his personal problems. As a troubled orphan, he spent three years in a juvenile correctional home after he was caught stealing clothes out of cars at the young age of 15. He later served two years in prison out of a six year sentence when he was convicted of beating his wife with a pipe and shooting at her car in 1988. He took police on a two state car chase in September, 1988, and was charged with carrying an unlicensed weapon and assaulting an officer.

In death Brown is no less controversial. His lawyer and accountant are said to have instructed his security staff to padlock the gate on his Beech Island, South Carolina mansion, barring his widow, Tomi Rae Brown from entering. Tomi’s name is not on the deed to the home, and she says she has no money and nowhere else to go. She claims that Brown’s lawyer and accountant have “been robbing from him all of his life and they’ll do it in death.” Tomi Rae, a backup singer, is Brown’s fourth wife and is the mother of their five year-old son. Brown has three six children from his prior marriages.

While Brown is said to have passed at the age of 73, some people believe he is older. His real age is unknown as he was not born in a hospital and was raised by his aunt in a Georgia brothel after his mother died in childbrith.

Here’s a segment of Brown singing “A Man’s World”

A compilation of his performances:

And his most recognized song, “I Feel Good”

I was playing James Brown’s music while writing this post and my two year old song was dancing and smiling. RIP James Brown, your work will influence countless generations of musicians.

Pictures from the Augusta Chronicle.