While the accolades continue to flow in about James Brown's historical impact on pop and R&B music, going overlooked is the sometimes uneasy relationship Augusta had with its most prominent ambassador.

The city officially has honored the Godfather of Soul three times: renaming a downtown street after him, commissioning a statue that resides in the 800 block of Broad Street and changing the name of the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center to James Brown Arena.

However, controversy usually preceded and followed each occasion.

For instance:

- It wasn't until 1993 that city officials officially recognized Mr. Brown by renaming Ninth Street to James Brown Boulevard. Even then, some city leaders were leery of it, saying honoring someone who has had past brushes with the law would send the wrong message.

"He's been a tremendous success in his career, (but) we've got to be careful not to be saying he's a role model in some of the things he's done in his personal life," Augusta city Councilman Gerald Woods said in an October 1993 article in The Augusta Chronicle. On Nov. 20, 1993, the city made the street renaming official in a dedication ceremony.

- In 2004, the city briefly put on hold commissioning a statue for Mr. Brown after he was arrested and charged with criminal domestic violence against his wife, Tomi Rae Brown. The Augusta Commission eventually approved a $10,000 payment toward the statue, but officials in charge of a planned music festival to be named after Mr. Brown eventually dropped the affiliation because of public backlash against his arrest.

- There was grousing earlier this year by some members of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority about renaming the civic center in honor of the legendary singer. The decision passed by a 5-2 vote. Authority member Richard Isdell opposed the name change, saying residents in his West Augusta district wouldn't have supported it.

"You have a number of people, people in power, public and private citizens who were looking at the past mistakes, and weren't necessarily willing to forgive him," said the Rev. Larry Fryer, a former pastor to Mr. Brown and a long-time confidant. "People have a tendency not to forgive nor forget things that happened in the past."

On occasion, the Rev. Fryer said, Mr. Brown would quietly wonder why the city he always praised held him at arm's length.

"He just said he couldn't understand it," the Rev. Fryer said. "He did tell me that ... because he did not get the kind of respect he would get in other parts of the state and world. You have a world-renowned artist, almost right at your front door, and you don't even want to honor him?"

Only a handful of celebrities can lay claim to some of the accolades Mr. Brown garnered in his career. A sampling include induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.

Robert "Flash" Gordon, the new manager of James Brown Arena, said some people in Augusta looked only at Mr. Brown's shortcomings and failed to take in the totality of the singer, both as an artist and as a caring person.

"I know that Mr. Brown has been a person who believed in treating people like he wanted to be treated," said Mr. Gordon, who owns two local record stores and has known Mr. Brown for years. "Did he get the recognition that he should have gotten? I think some would say he did and there were some who would say he didn't. I feel like he deserved so much, and so much more for all that he had done."

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver said the next few days will go a long way in helping change - or validating - any perceptions that Augusta failed to give Mr. Brown the recognition he deserved.

"I feel like the community had really, really started to embrace him," Mr. Copenhaver said. "I think that Augusta is going to see ... exactly what James Brown meant to the rest of the world. The world is going to be looking in on us, and we need to honor him appropriately."

COMPLETE COVERAGE

James Brown: 1933-2006

James Brown, the world renown musical celebrity who never forgot his hometown of Augusta, died unexpectedly Christmas morning in an Atlanta hospital at age 73.

• Harlem fans say farewell
• Marital status still uncertain
• Share your memories of James Brown
• Audio Slide Show: Sharpton has kind words
• Audio Slide Show: Final curtain at Apollo
• Full coverage: Photos, video and stories