Augusta, GA - James Brown, the super dynamic singer, performer, songwriter has died at the age of 73.

Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta on Sunday and died early Monday morning, according to his agent, Frank Copsidas.

Recognized by a number of nicknames including "The Godfather of Soul", "Soul Brother #1", "Mr. Dynamite", and the "Hardest-Working Man in Show Business" -- Brown is considered a founding member of modern soul and funk music, and is one of the biggest influences in 20th century music.

James Brown's style and flair created a brand of soul music unmatched during the 60's and 70's, and has inspired hundreds of songwriters, dancers, and instrumentalists today. His influence is clearly visible in the performances of such artists as Michael Jackson, Prince, Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D'Arby, Lenny Kravitz, and Usher.

Brown had over 50 top ten Billboard Hot 100 or Billboard Top R&B Singles including:

• 1956: "Please, Please, Please" (R&B #5)
• 1961: "Bewildered" (R&B #8, U.S. #40)
• 1965: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" - Part I (R&B #1, U.S. #8)
• 1965: "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (R&B #1, U.S. #3)
• 1966: "It's a Man's World7quot; (R&B #1, U.S. #8)
• 1967: "Cold Sweat" - Part 1 (R&B #1, U.S. #7)
• 1968: "I Got The Feelin'" (R&B #1, U.S. #6)
• 1968: "Licking Stick - Licking Stick" - Part 1 (R&B #2, U.S. #14)
• 1968: "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" - Part 1 (R&B #1, U.S. #10)
• 1969: "Ain't It Funky Now" (R&B #3, U.S. #24)
• 1970: "Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like A) Sex Machine" (R&B #2, U.S. #15)
• 1970: "Super Bad" - Part 1 & Part 2 (R&B #1, U.S. #13)
• 1971: "Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got, To Get What She Wants)" (R&B #1, U.S. #15)
• 1971: "Make It Funky" - Part 1 (R&B #1, U.S. #22)
• 1972: "Get On The Good Foot" - Part 1 (R&B #1, U.S. #18)
• 1974: &qupt;Papa Don't Take No Mess" - Part 1 (R&B #1, U.S. #31)
• 1976: "Get Up Off of That Thing" (R&B #4, U.S. #45)
• 1985: "Living in America" (R&B #10, U.S. #4)
• 1988: "I'm Real" (R&B #2)

James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina and was abandoned by his immediate family. With friends and relatives, he eventually moved 50 miles west to Augusta, Georgia where they settled. During his childhood, he helped support his family by picking cotton, corn, and shining shoes at various downtown storefronts. But his younger days weren't without negatives. Influenced by poor living conditions, Brown began committing petty crimes and at the age of sixteen, he was convicted of armed robbery and sent to a juvenile detention center in Toccoa, Georgia.

There were also numerous later skirmishes with the law in his adult life, including an aggravated assault charge against a police officer, and failing to stop for a police officer, which landed him more than two years in a South Carolina prison work release program.

On November 11, 1993, Augusta mayor Charles DeVaney held a ceremony during which Augusta's 9th Street was renamed "James Brown Boulevard". On May 6, 2005, as a seventy-second birthday present for James Brown, the city of Augusta unveiled a seven-foot bronze statue of Brown in downtown Augusta. Just this past August, the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority voted to rename the civic center the James Brown Arena.

Brown will forever be remembered for creating a sound of soul music that has helped influence sounds and inspire the lyrics for most R&B, hip-hop, and rap tunes we hear today. "Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I'm saying?", he told the AP in 2003.

On Friday, December 22 2006, Brown joined volunteers at his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, and planned to perform on New Year's Eve at B.B. King Blues Club in New York.

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