Many of you wrote in today with the sad news that legendary musician James Brown has passed away. Brown, who began his career in 1953, had a profound influence on rock, jazz, reggae and hip hop as well as being instrumental in the evolution of rhythm and blues and funk music. In the 1960s and 1970s, Brown was a notable presence in American politics, particularly for his activism on behalf of African Americans and the poor.

Brown had been admitted to the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia just yesterday after a visit to the dentist where he was found to have severe pneumonia. He died this morning at 1:45am of heart failure.

Our most sincere condolences to his friends, family and fans.