One notable effort was his 1966 hit single (Stay In School) Don't Be A Drop-Out.

Now, he has an even more serious message: ''Killing is out. School is in." It's a phrase he repeats many times in his new song School Is In, Peace.

Inspired by news reports of students being killed by other students, he wrote it in May with producer Derrick Monk.

''I've never seen it this bad," Mr. Brown said recently after a rehearsal at the Imperial Theatre. ''I pray for the families."

The song will be on Mr. Brown's to-be-released album, The Next Step.

''This record is about the violence and terrorism going on in America," added Mr. Monk, ''but we're focusing more on our future, which is the youth. Mr. Brown has been doing this song everywhere in concert, and the response has been great. People are singing and chanting it back. It's unbelievable the way it's catching on like wildfire."

James Brown and Bobby Byrd, an original member of Mr. Brown's Famous Flames backup group, harmonized during a recent rehearsal in the Imperial Theatre. JEFF BARNES/MORRIS NEWS SERVICE

Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Brown presented President Bush with a T-shirt that said, ''Killing is out, school is in." The presentation was made during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House honoring Mr. Brown and other black musicians.

The singer told Kip Grosenick, entertainment news reporter for Web site CNN.com: ''We need to protect the kids by giving them something to do; making them love Mom and Dad more, love the family more, love themselves more and love their school. So there won't have to be killing in school."

The 68-year-old Mr. Brown probably is thinking of the future of one child in particular. James Joseph Brown II was born on June 11 to Mr. Brown and his featured vocalist, Tomi Rae Hynie. They intend to wed soon.

''I'm very proud of him," Mr. Brown, beaming while his infant son sat in a car seat beside his mother at the Imperial.

Also at the rehearsal were Bobby and Vickie Byrd, who toured with Mr. Brown as featured vocalists in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Mr. Byrd first hooked up with Mr. Brown in Toccoa, Ga., in 1953 and was an original member of Mr. Brown's Famous Flames backup group.

''We got our big start in Macon, thanks to Little Richard, whom we met in Toccoa," Mr. Byrd said. ''I think music has a lot of do with Mr. Brown and Little Richard being so happy and still being so strong today. That's what they live by. I don't think there's anything else they ever wanted to do. Nothing but music."

Another of Mr. Brown's songs that is getting an even greater response lately is Living in America, which he sang for the 1986 movie Rocky IV.

COMING SUNDAY: James Brown is Augusta's best-known resident, but there are few sites where tourists can learn more about the Godfather of Soul. How about a James Brown museum?

''PolyGram Records wants me to record it over again," Mr. Brown said. ''My band, led by Hollie Farris, now plays it better than the way it was originally cut."

Mr. Farris, standing nearby, interjected, ''You should hear him (Mr. Brown) sing God Bless America."

''Oh, you liked that the other night?" Mr. Brown responded. ''You going to put an arrangement on that for me?"

''Sure," the bandleader replied.

''We've done God Bless America before," Mr. Brown continued, ''but we have become really conscious of what is happening (in this country), and we really did it right the other night.

''You see, most people in America still aren't conscious of the fact that we're at war. We're at war! W-A-R! War. We've got to change our whole program. What our country did not do, we've got to do it now. Every American - regardless of his origin, where he came from - every American today are kin to each other. And we've got to come together and do something about it."

Don Rhodes has written about country music for 30 years. He can be reached at (706) 823-3214 or at ramblin@morris.com.