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James Brown fight continues

30/12/2007

Five of soul legend James Brown's children are challenging the will the singer made before he died.

The latest twist in a painful saga of recrimination and accusation sees the five claim the Godfather of Soul was being influenced by allegedly avaricious advisors when he made his will.

Brown left most of his fortune to the needy and poor in the American Deep South. His children suggest the move was encouraged by advisors who wanted to profit from involvement in the foundation set up to distribute the money.

Such allegations have been rejected by one of Brown's advisors, Buddy Dallas, who has insisted that "no one told James Brown what to do".

Lawyer Louis Levenson believes otherwise, disputing Brown's intentions.

"There was sporadic indication that Mr. Brown intended to benefit some charities, but the circumstances surrounding the making of these documents have always been clouded in mystery," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying.

Brown died on Christmas Day 2006 aged 73 in Atlanta, Florida, but was not buried until March. His bereaved partner claimed to be his widow but was prevented from entering the Brown family home after the death.