Today's birthday May 3: James Brown, American singer (1933-2007)
Nicknamed The Godfather of Soul, James Brown was a legendary American singer who was famous for his trademark soul scream, onstage energy and outrageous performances.
Born on May 3, 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown was raised in Georgia.
He lived with his aunt, a brothel keeper, and started working as a child.
Dressed in clothing made of rags, he shined shoes, picked cotton and washed cars as a child to get by.
He was dismissed from school at age 12 for insufficient clothing.
In 1949, Brown was caught breaking into cars and jailed for four years.
After being released Brown joined a vocal quartet called the Gospel Starlighters.
The group eventually shifted their focus from gospel to R&B, changed their name to the Famous Flames, and in 1956 released their debut single Please Please Please, which sold a million copies.
Brown moved to New York teamed up with new musicians whom he also called The Flames.
His first number one hit, Try Me, was released in 1958 and became the best selling R&B single of the year.
In 1965 Brown released the single Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, which established a whole new brand of soul music and stayed at the top of the R&B charts for 8 weeks.
In 1972, Brown's single Get On the Good Foot topped the R&B chart for almost a month and proved his potent influence on black music in the 1970s.
During the disco era Brown's sales figures slowed, but in 1985 he released Living in America which reached number four on the Billboard charts and was one of his most commercially successful singles.
The following year, Brown was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Two years later, he was sentenced to six years jail after a string of assaults and drug offences.
Brown was released on parole in 1991, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards in 1992.
He was an avid black rights advocate and is famous for his anthem `Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud'.
Brown died in December 2006 after being hospitalised with pneumonia.
Even in death, Brown was extravagant and unique.
He was buried in a golden coffin, wore a sparkling cape and mourners danced to his music.
