James Brown Has Died

James Brown, the father of soul music, died at 1:45 a.m. on Monday morning at Emory Crawford Hospital in Atlanta at the age of 73, after suffering from pneumonia. James Brown was known for his not-so-pleasant voice and the revolutionary rhythms of his songs. He was the creator of rap, dance, and disco music. Alongside big names like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and many others, James Brown was one of the most influential musicians of the past fifty years. For at least a decade, he was a role model, and many young artists based their careers on his example. His fast footwork influenced artists like Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Rest in peace... On the night of June 24, 2003, Michael attended the BET Awards ceremony in Los Angeles together with his sister Latoya, and presented James Brown—the father of soul music—with the Lifetime Achievement Award. As he placed a cape over James Brown’s shoulders, he said: “No one has ever influenced me like this man. eMJey / AP / CNN