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| Soul star James Brown dies at 73 | Soul star James Brown dies at 73 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Singer James Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul", has died at the age of 73, his agent has said. | Singer James Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul", has died at the age of 73, his agent has said. |
| He was admitted to hospital in Atlanta after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia but died at 0145 local time (0645 GMT), said Frank Copsidas. | He was admitted to hospital in Atlanta after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia but died at 0145 local time (0645 GMT), said Frank Copsidas. |
| The star was famous for hits including I Got You (I Feel Good), Papa's Got a Brand New Bag and Living in America. | The star was famous for hits including I Got You (I Feel Good), Papa's Got a Brand New Bag and Living in America. |
| "He is such an influence, I learned so much from him," Mr Copsidas told the BBC World Service. | "He is such an influence, I learned so much from him," Mr Copsidas told the BBC World Service. |
| There will never, and could never, be another James Brown Andy Peebles, ex-Radio 1 DJ | |
| "On Friday he had his toy giveaway, which is his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, Georgia. | "On Friday he had his toy giveaway, which is his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, Georgia. |
| "On Saturday, he went to his dentist up in Atlanta, and his dentist told him something was wrong, and he sent him to a doctor immediately." | "On Saturday, he went to his dentist up in Atlanta, and his dentist told him something was wrong, and he sent him to a doctor immediately." |
| String of hits | |
| Brown was born in 1933 in South Carolina. | Brown was born in 1933 in South Carolina. |
| He joined a gospel group as a young man after his release from jail for trying to steal a car. | |
| Brown's songs have been widely sampled by other artists Obituary: James Brown In pictures: Soul 'Godfather' How Brown influenced music Send us your memories | |
| He had his first hit on the US rhythm and blues chart, Please Please Please, in 1956. | He had his first hit on the US rhythm and blues chart, Please Please Please, in 1956. |
| Brown had 94 hits on Billboard's mainstream Hot 100 in the US, according to his official website, and by the end of his career, he had a repertoire of 800 songs. | Brown had 94 hits on Billboard's mainstream Hot 100 in the US, according to his official website, and by the end of his career, he had a repertoire of 800 songs. |
| However, he achieved only one top 10 single in the UK - Living in America, from the soundtrack of Rocky IV, which reached number five in 1986. | However, he achieved only one top 10 single in the UK - Living in America, from the soundtrack of Rocky IV, which reached number five in 1986. |
| The star was credited with spreading the popularity of funk around the world, influencing a new generation of black music which spawned rap and hip-hop. | The star was credited with spreading the popularity of funk around the world, influencing a new generation of black music which spawned rap and hip-hop. |
| Brown, who had surgery for prostate cancer in 2004, appeared in London in October as part of the BBC's Electric Proms line-up. | Brown, who had surgery for prostate cancer in 2004, appeared in London in October as part of the BBC's Electric Proms line-up. |
| Hall of Fame | |
| At the time, he described how he planned to carry on as a performer, saying: "Everyone's got soul, whether it's talking, hip-hop, rap, gospel. | At the time, he described how he planned to carry on as a performer, saying: "Everyone's got soul, whether it's talking, hip-hop, rap, gospel. |
| "We've gotta just stay with whatever we do. | "We've gotta just stay with whatever we do. |
| "I don't wanna change, because then I'd have to name myself Sam Smith or Ted Wright or somebody. I'm going to be James Brown." | |
| Brown won the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in 1992Last month Brown played at a ceremony at London's Alexandra Palace which saw his induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame, 20 years after entering the US equivalent. | |
| Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles paid tribute to the singer, describing how he had always been "entranced" by such a "fascinating character". | Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles paid tribute to the singer, describing how he had always been "entranced" by such a "fascinating character". |
| "He was a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated star. There will never, and could never, be another James Brown." | "He was a one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated star. There will never, and could never, be another James Brown." |
| And Bob Harris of BBC Radio 2 described him as a "massive influence, not just for black music but also for so many white music fans who were so strongly motivated and influenced by the music he made". | And Bob Harris of BBC Radio 2 described him as a "massive influence, not just for black music but also for so many white music fans who were so strongly motivated and influenced by the music he made". |