Recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, James was hospitalized on the 24th with pneumonia, the old man’s friend, as some doctors call it. He passed away peacefully early this morning.

The “Godfather of Soul,” the “hahdust wuhkin man in show biniss” is gone. No more turns sliding half-way across the stage on his knees, crying out “Please, please, please.” No more Flames to drape capes around his shoulders, and lead him off-stage, sobbing and crying for his lost love.

No more frenetic dance steps, no more grunted accent bites of vocal percussion. The snappy music sample of Clyde Stubblefield’s “Funky Drummer” has been used in scores, if not hundreds of hip-hop records, is taught as a basic riff to student musicians, and will always be one of his trademarks.

The most electrifying stage show I ever saw was James Brown at the Apollo Theater, in 1966, I think it was.

Maybe it’s just part of my misspent and lamented youth, but I miss him already.