R.I.P. James Brown

“What James Brown was to music in terms of soul and hip-hop, rap, all of that, is what Bach was to classical music. This is a guy who literally changed the music industry. He put everybody on a different beat, a different style of music. He pioneered it.” - Rev. Al Sharpton

“He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown.” - Little Richard

“He was dramatic to the end — dying on Christmas Day. ... He’ll be all over the news all over the world today. He would have it no other way.” - Rev. Jesse Jackson