Funk pioneer Chuck Brown has died after a battle with pneumonia. He was 75.
The singer, nicknamed the Godfather of Go-Go, passed away on Wednesday (16May12) at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where he had been receiving treatment for the last month.
He is credited with helping to define the go-go genre by fusing funk, soul and Latin sounds.
Brown's hit Bustin' Loose, with his group the Soul Searchers, spent several weeks at the top of the R&B charts in 1979 and was later sampled in rapper Nelly's Grammy-winning track Hot in Herre.
A host of stars have taken to Twitter.com to express their grief, with Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden writing, "R.I.P. Chuck Brown. Thanx 4 the soundtrack of my youth," and Pharrell Williams posting, "I'm sick that we lost Chuck Brown. So honored that I got a chance to meet him. Rip to the Godfather of Go-Go."
Actress Holly Robinson Peete adds, "Rip to the Godfather of Dc Go Go Chuck Brown," while Mary J. Blige re-tweeted the message, "DC just lost a legend 2day. GodFather of GoGo Chuck Brown has passed," and rapper Common writes, "May God bless the soul of The God Father of GoGo Chuck Brown!"
And Hustle and Flow star Taraji P. Henson offers, "Rip to the God Father of Go-Go Chuck Brown!!!! Lord have Mercy!"