"If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator." I was just listening to his Christmas Tape "Santa's Got a Brand New Bag" the other day. This news saddens me, because James' band the JBs were some of the tightest funk musicians of all time. What's your favorite James Brown song? Mine would have to be "Get Up Offa That Thang". My next bowl goes out to the man who was the Godfather of Soul.