December 26, 2006 16:36

Tributes continue for James Brown

Mick Jagger and President Bush add theirs

Tributes have continued to be paid today to soul legend James Brown, who died yesterday (December 25) at the age of 73.

“His passing is a huge loss to music," said Mick Jagger. "He was a whirlwind of energy and precision, and he was always very generous and supportive to me in the early days of The Stones. I've always been a huge admirer of him as a performer and a band leader.”

Snoop Dogg described Brown as his “soul inspiration.”
“I am hurt,” he said. “That's my godfather, my soul inspiration, the hardest working man in show business of all time. He'll be missed, but his music and his legacy will live on through me, in every way you can imagine. Soul brother No. 1 ... we miss you James Brown.”

President Bush also spoke. He said Brown was “an American original - his fans came from all walks of life and backgrounds. James Brown's family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas."

Brown died after being admitted to the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta suffering with pneumonia. His agent Frank Copsidas confirmed that he had died at 1.45am local time (6.45am UK time).

According to Copsidas the singer first became aware that he was seriously ill when he visited his dentist at the weekend.

"On Friday (December 22) he had his toy giveaway, which is his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, Georgia," the agent told the BBC World Service. "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."

The singer died with his long term friend Charles Bobbit at his bedside.

Read more on James Brown's life now.

And have your say on Brown by posting your tributes and memories below.