December 28, 2006 10:58

Usher pays tribute to James Brown

“I will miss him,” the singer says

Usher has paid tribute to James Brown saying: “I will miss him.”

Usher last saw Brown at a benefit concert for families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in October 2005.

He said: “The last time we spoke was at my Project Restart event at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta.

“He was so happy to be part of my Gulf Coast relief project. His support showed me so much about his character. James Brown was a giver. (He) earned his name as the hardest working man in show business…I will miss him.”

Usher also recalled the time that the Godfather of Soul named the singer the ‘Godson of Soul’ after their duet at the 2005 Grammys.

He said: “Man, when he called the ‘Godson of Soul’, I damn near fell out backstage. Truth be told, I was so excited while on stage that I didn’t even know that he gave me that name. It wasn’t until I was backstage in my dressing room and someone from my staff told me he named me that. Then I actually saw a replay of the award show.”

The singer said that Brown was: “In a class by himself.”

He told People: “James Brown introduced me to soul. Because of him I was given a clear view of what a real performance is and should be. I learned showmanship from him.”

As previously reported, a public funeral service for Brown will be held on Saturday (December 30) at James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia.