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Inside the Mystery Surrounding James Brown’s Death
The cause of James Brown’s death at age 73 has been a matter of debate for years.
The Godfather of Soul and iconic musician was still touring and performing when he was in his 70s. Fans didn’t know that his health was deteriorating. It was the day before Christmas when he was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure symptoms.
Brown’s death being labeled “natural causes” has been questioned by several people who thought he was killed, according to a three-part CNN investigation in 2019. The death certificate, as reported by CNN, listed the cause of death as a heart attack and fluid in the lungs.
Testimony from Brown’s inner circle led the Atlanta district attorney to reopen the case in early 2020. The investigation was ended without any charges being filed the following year, and it was later revealed that some evidence had disappeared, resulting in calls for an FBI inquiry, CNN reported. There has been no conclusive finding, and Brown’s death is still a puzzle.
These are the facts about the mysterious circumstances of James Brown’s death.
James Brown’s Cause of Death
As per the official letter of the hospital, the King of Soul James Brown died in 2006 due to congestive heart failure in a hospital in Atlanta.
He over the years had gotten sick and weaker after he after continued drug abuse, battles with prostate cancer, and diabetes. The New York Times states that Brown was taken to the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta on December 23, 2006. At the time Brown thought it was just the pneumonia because the media picked up that as his cause of death which was incorrect, according to CNN’s 2019 investigation.
His health started to get better while he was being treated, to the point that he even rearranged his tour dates that he had to cancel because of the sickness. But in the very early hours of December 26, 2006, Brown died quite unexpectedly. His death was ascribed to a mild heart attack and fluid in the lungs on the certificate, which is why it was ruled as death from natural causes, according to CNN.
Why Some People Think James Brown Was Not a Natural Death
At first, the entire nation was holding on to the official cause of death of the Godfather of Soul which was that he passed away due to a heart attack caused by congestive heart failure and fluid in his lungs.
Only a handful of people have recently come out with the belief that they don’t think he died of natural causes.
They have held that he was probably murdered, as evidenced by the 2019 CNN report.
The report unveiled a fresh array of allegations concerning the last night of the legend’s life, specifically pointing out the concerns of the doctor who was attending to him at the hospital.
Dr. Marvin Crawford, the doctor who not only treated James Brown in the hospital but was also the one to sign the death certificate, told CNN that some of the things which had come to his attention in relation to Brown’s death and decline “did not make sense,” thereby implying that the official explanation might just be a cover-up.
What Made James Brown’s Doctor Doubt His Sudden Decline
The doctor who looked after James Brown and issued the death certificate for him, Dr. Marvin Crawford, has publicly expressed his doubts about how fast Brown’s condition got worse.
He told CNN, “His change was too quick. He was a patient who I would never have expected to go into cardiac arrest.” “He died on that very night, and I did pose that question: What went wrong in that room?”
Crawford insisted Brown did not have pneumonia. According to him, Brown had early congestive heart failure, a few signs of a heart attack, and a urine test that came out positive for cocaine. These were the problems for which Brown was treated and, by around 5 p.m. on Dec.24, he was getting better very fast.
“If he had wanted, he probably could have left the hospital on foot,” said Crawford.
However, Brown’s health took a turn for the worse later, and he never got better.
After CNN’s 2019 investigation, the Atlanta prosecutors re-examined Brown’s death in 2020, but the matter was closed without any action in 2021.
When Did James Brown Die?
James Brown died at 1:45 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2006.
He was admitted to an Atlanta hospital with pneumonia on Dec. 23; although Brown appeared to be getting better, his condition took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Christmas Day.
Brown was in motion, actively planning his next steps, when he died. His December tour was going to kick off in December (the shows were delayed due to his illness), and he had plans to release three new tracks in January, one of which was a duet with Aretha Franklin penned by John Legend, according to CNN.
Just before his health took a turn for the worse on Dec. 24, Brown’s doctor had given him the green light to carry on with his performance in New Jersey that weekend and at a New Year’s Eve party at B.B. King’s in New York, The New York Times reports.
Where Did James Brown Die?
James Brown passed away in the hospital of his hometown Atlanta that happens to be Emory Crawford Long Hospital.
According to CNN, when James Brown died, he was only accompanied in the hospital room by one person: his personal manager, Charles Bobbit. Bobbit revealed later that the last words the singer said to him were that his chest felt like it was on fire.
How old was James Brown when he died?
At the time of his passing, James Brown was 73 years old.
What Was the Public’s Reaction to James Brown’s Death?
The passing of James Brown led to an expression of sorrow and an emotional response of large-scale public tributes in several cities.
Three days after his passing, on December 28, 2006, his remains were made available for public viewing onstage at the Apollo Theater in New York City, as reported by The Augusta Chronicle. The line of people waiting to see the funeral extended to five city blocks.
The following day, Brown’s family held a private service at the church of his daughter Deanna Brown Thomas in North Augusta, Georgia.
On December 30, 2006, Augusta, Brown’s hometown, declared a “day of mourning” and held the city’s largest funeral that was estimated to cost about $48,000. Close to 9,000 guests were at the James Brown Arena for a four-hour program that, among other things, included a band performance by the Soul Generals, a dance tribute by MC Hammer, and a speech by Michael Jackson. At the end of the service, around 20,000 mourners passed by Brown’s body in the gold-plated casket.
After another private family gathering, Brown’s remains were transported to his daughter Deanna’s residence in Beech Island, where they were kept in an above-ground tomb.
What Kind of Legacy Did James Brown Leave Behind?
The Godfather of Soul’s legacy is as significant as his nickname implies.
James Brown is still a giant among the black artists of the music world. His music was the driving force behind funk, soul, and the early hip-hop era, which continues to sample his voice, rhythm, and breaks in rap and R&B tracks.
He was one of the first 10 artists to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992, among other honors. 2017 was the year he was honored posthumously by the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
But Brown’s influence also extended beyond the music industry. The 1968 hit “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud” by Brown turned out to be the unofficial anthem of the Black Power movement, according to WGBH, representing Black pride, equality, and self-acceptance. In this way, James Brown’s legacy through music as well as social activism still has a powerful impact on society.
James Brown’s Legacy Onscreen and Off
James Brown made a huge impact on music and the way we think of it. Still, his artistic legacy is somewhat softened by his family feuding over his property after he died, as well as by his history of abusive behavior allegations.
The story of his life and the effect he made on the world have been taken up by various Hollywood productions. In 2014, Chadwick Boseman, a movie Get on Up, a biopic of Brown, reintroduced the public to the compelling life story of James Brown. Just recently, the 2024 two-part documentary series James Brown: Say It Loud shed light on not only the facelift of Brown’s career but also the darkness of his complicated private life.
