FANS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY PAY TRIBUTE TO JAMES BROWN

Entertainers, civil rights leaders, fans, friends and family of, "the Godfather of Soul," James Brown attended his funeral Saturday (December 30) in Augusta, Georgia. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Hammer and Michael Jackson were among the 9,000 people in attendance. The legendary showman, also known as the "Harderst Working Man in Show Business," died of congestive heart failure on Christmas Day at the age of 73.

"James Brown is my greatest inspiration," Jackson said, telling the crowd how his mother would wake him up at night so he could watch Brown on television. 

The overall theme was a celebration of his life and how he changed popular music and the civil rights movement by giving many hope with the 1968 song "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)." 

His musical career included 119 hits but his influence on r&b, funk and hip hop continues to be a driving force. And, his desire to serve the poor continued until his last days. 

The ceremony was the third in three consecutive days. Thursday's memorial event at the Apollo theatre in New York was followed by a private service on Friday for close friends and family.