Thousands of fans lined up outside New York City's historic Apollo Theater to see legendary singer James Brown one last time.
Widely known as "The Godfather of Soul," Brown died Monday in Atlanta, in the southern U.S. state of Georgia of congestive heart failure at age 73. His body arrived by horse-drawn carriage before going on public display in the theater that helped fuel his success.
Brown recorded his legendary album Live at the Apollo in 1963. The album solidified him as a musical force and brought rhythm-and-blues music into the American cultural mainstream.
Brown's body will be taken back to Georgia for a private ceremony for family and friends. There will then be another public viewing in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, and his burial on Saturday.
Brown's signature gospel-style singing and energetic performances earned him the nickname "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." His innovative rhythms and large backing bands were instrumental in creating new genres of American music, including the soul music and funk of the late 1960s and early 70s. Later, his work paved the way for disco and rap.
His best-known hits include "Please, Please, Please," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," and "Say it Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud."
