Michael Jackson Attends James Brown Funeral

Michael Jackson attended James Brown’s funeral yesterday, paying tribute to the legendary singer as his “greatest inspiration”.

The self-styled ‘King Of Pop’ told over 8,500 mourners at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia that he studied the ‘Godfather Of Soul’ from six years of age.

He said, “Ever since I was a small child - no more than six-years-old - my mother would wake me no matter what time it was to watch the television to see the master at work.

“Every time I saw him move I was mesmerized. I've never seen a performer like JB and right then and there, I knew that was exactly what wanted I to do with my life. James Brown, I shall miss you and I love you so much. Thank you for everything."

A host of other personalities attended the service, including Rev Jesse Jackson, former Temptation Ollie Woodson, Bootsy Collins, Dick Gregory and MC Hammer.

The Reverend Al Sharpton also told the crowds, “The whole world changed their beat because of James Brown. Nobody started lower and ended higher than James Brown did.”

He added that Brown was, "the star for the common people. He looked like us and he performed for us," before asking St Peter to, "open up the gates of heaven wide because James Brown likes a lot of room to swagger."

Brown died of heart failure on Christmas Day, aged 73.