James Brown, the legendary singer known as the "Godfather of Soul", has died in Atlanta, said his agent on Monday. He was 73.

Brown was hospitalised at Emory Crawford Long Hospital with pneumonia on Sunday and died at 01:45 on Monday (0645 GMT), said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music.

Long-time friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, said Copsidas.

He said Brown's family was being notified of his death and that the cause of death was still uncertain.

"We really don't know, at this point, what he died of," he said.

Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolised him, and sometimes openly copied him.

His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.

Songs such as David Bowie's Fame, Prince's Kiss, George Clinton's Atomic Dog and Sly and the Family Stone's Sing a Simple Song were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style.

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.

Grammy awards

"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."

Brown's hit singles include Out of Sight, (Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, I Got You (I Feel Good) and Say It Out Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud.

"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves coloured, and after that song, we were calling ourselves black," said Brown in a 2003 AP interview.

"The song showed people that lyrics and music and a song can change society."

Brown won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992. He had also won Grammys for Papa's Got a Brand New Bag and Living In America.

He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.

He triumphed despite an often unhappy personal life.

Brown, who lived in Beech Island near the Georgia line, spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer.

After his release in 1991, Brown said he wanted to "try to straighten out" rock music.