Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. James Brown Dead at 73 ---------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=157BAD1:A6F02AD83191E1600408940D4976DBC79574F7DCC14957C0 Legendary American singer, known as 'Godfather of Soul' died of pneumonia, Monday James Brown (file photo)The agent for James Brown says the legendary American singer known as the "Godfather of Soul" has died at the age of 73. Brown's agent, Frank Copsidas, said the singer was hospitalized Sunday at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, in the southern state of Georgia with pneumonia, and died around 1:45 a.m. (0645 GMT), Monday. The singer, also known as, "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," is credited with turning Rhythm and Blues into soul and soul music into the funk of the late '60s and early '70s. Brown was also instrumental in the development of disco and rap. He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 1992. His hits include "Out of Sight," "I Got You," and "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud." Brown's agent said the cause of his death has not yet been determined. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. .