Thousands gather to pay final respects to James Brown

The funky sounds of James Brownblared from Harlem's Apollo Theater in New York on Thursday, as thousands gathered to sing, dance and pay their final respects to the Godfather of Soul.

Longtime fans filed past Brown, who lay in repose on the stage where he made his debut in 1956.

Dapper until the end, the musical icon was dressed in a blue suit, white gloves and silver shoes. Flanking his gold-coloured casket were giant images of the singer performing over the years and a flower arrangement that spelled out his nickname: Godfather.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, ahorse-drawnhearse bore Brown's body through the streets of New York's Harlem neighbourhood, which the Georgia singer had considered a second home.

Acaravan of mourners had followed,singing the chorus of one of his most famous songs, Say it Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud.

Though the Apollo has previously hosted public viewings for employees who have died, Brown is the first performer to be so honoured at the historic venue, which has seen the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson cross its stage.

Three-day tribute

Friends, family and fans have planned a three-day tribute to celebrate Brown's life. After the public viewing at the famed theatre, Brown's body will be returned to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia for a private funeral on Friday.

A massive public memorial will follow on Saturday at the James Brown Arena in Augusta.

Brown, popularly known as the hardest-working man in show business, died Monday morning of congestive heart failure. Themusical pioneer, who has influenced genres ranging from dance music to hip hop, was 73.

Longtime fansqueue to pay respects

Brenda Harper, who lined up atmidnight so she could bethe first mournerto enter the Apollo, told CBC News on Thursday morning thatthe wait was "kinda unbearable, but it's worth it."

The 53-year-old Harper last saw Brown perform on the Apollo stage 15 years ago.

"I was sitting in the front row and the music touched me so much that I just jumped on the stage and started dancing," she recalled. "Me and him, we danced for two minutes or so. I have never seen anyone dance like him."

Another fan, Robert Harrison, praised Brown for being an inspiration to African Americans.

"When he brought out the song [Say it Loud] I'm Black and I'm Proud, it made me feel good," Harrison said.

"It's going to be a royal day in Harlem," Brown's close friend, Rev. Al Sharpton, said in an interview on Wednesday. He promised "the kind of homecoming we haven't seen in a long time, if ever, in the Harlem community."