The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, has died at age 73, his agent said early Monday morning.

Brown was hospitalized on Sunday in Atlanta with pneumonia. He died around 1:45 a.m. on Christmas Day, his agent Frank Copsidas said.

Capsidas said the cause of death is not yet known, though added it appears he died of heart failure. Brown showed signs of illness during a routine visit to the dentist and was sent to hospital.

While in hospital, his agent said that he expected Brown to return to his concert schedule as soon as next weekend.

Brown was scheduled to perform two shows on New Year’s Eve at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. According to CNN, he was going to perform a song for the news station’s New Year’s countdown broadcast.

He also had a nine-date Canadian tour planned for the first two weeks of January, followed by shows in California in February and a European tour this summer.

His longtime friend and manager, Charles Bobbit, was by his side according to reports.

Brown has entertained crowds for over 50 years with his unique sounds, a mix of funk, R&B, gospel and, of course, soul, the genre he claimed he invented.

Brown is best known for his hits “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”






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