James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Throughout his career, he influenced the development of many genres of music, including funk, soul, rock and roll, R&B, disco, hip-hop, and many others. He began his music career in the 1950s as a member of the R&B group The Gospel Starlighters (later, the Famous Flames). In 1956, he scored his first hit with "Please, Please, Please." Some of James Brown's other iconic songs include "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," "Cold Sweat," "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud," and "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine." James Brown died on December 25, 2006, at the age of 73. The cause of death was congestive heart failure, resulting from complications of pneumonia.