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By ELIOTT C. McLAUGHLIN
Associated Press Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- James Brown was born in South Carolina but grew up here - and lets the world know it. Town folks appreciate that and wanted him to know it. Their way of showing him: a life-sized bronze statue of the Godfather of Soul himself in middle age, grinning broadly and wearing a cape.
Brown unveiled his 72nd birthday present Friday at a ceremony downtown attended by hundreds.
"I hope I didn't disappoint anyone and I'm so glad you did what you did," Brown said of the statue.
The statue was supposed to be unveiled last May, for Brown's birthday, but the city postponed the ceremony because the entertainer, who has spent time in jail for drugs and assault, was facing domestic violence charges for pushing and threatening his wife. He did not contest the charges, saying he wanted to keep his family matters private.
"We need to let Mr. Brown settle those issues in his private life before we move forward with a very public recognition of his professional life," Mayor Bob Young said last year.
This year, in a statement about the unveiling, Young made it clear that the statue commemorates Brown's musical accomplishments.
"All of Augusta should be proud of the professional accomplishments of James Brown. He is truly an icon in his profession," Young said.
At the ceremony, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Brown's former road manager, said the statue will stand as a reminder that everyone gets knocked down, but champions get back up.
"This is not a statue for his ego," Sharpton said.
Funds for the $40,000 statue came from private donors and the city's downtown development authority.
Growing up poor in this town of about 200,000 located 140 miles east of Atlanta, Brown danced for change on the sidewalks that now surround the statue, according to a news release from the city.
He won his first talent show at the city's Lenox Theater and used to stand outside the Del Mar Casino on Walton Way - now James Brown Boulevard - to hear his idol, jazzman Louis Jordan of "Let the Good Times Roll" fame. Brown went on to be named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
After seeing success, Brown moved to New York, but returned to Augusta in the 1960s and is now known for giving bicycles and turkeys to the less fortunate during the holidays.
After thanking the crowd and sharing anecdotes from his childhood, Brown said: "God bless you and God is good and please, please, please don't forget me."
yeah james
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