James Brown did a lot of things for Augusta, but some say one of his most notable performances occurred in May 1970.

After days of rioting sparked by the beating death of a 16-year-old black youth in the Richmond County jail, Gov. Lester Maddox summoned Mr. Brown to Augusta to help quell the unrest.

Mr. Brown, who had been performing in Flint, Mich., answered the call, but not before more than 100 city blocks were burned or damaged.

In 2000, the 30th anniversary of the riots, Mr. Brown discussed the events in an interview with The Augusta Chronicle.

"(The riot) was Augusta's warning ticket," Mr. Brown said at the time.

"You had tanks in the middle of the street and armored trucks," he told the newspaper. "Me and my daddy and a couple more people were going through the community trying to stop them, talking to the looters and calm the people and not take sides."

On Tuesday, one person who lived through the riots described Mr. Brown, who died Monday at age 73, as a central force behind stopping them.

"He was a real person who cared about the city," said Cecil Atchley, a former soldier who was stationed at Fort Gordon at the time.

He recalled how he was summoned to the military installation from his home and how military police were put on alert because of the riots.

"It wasn't a black-white thing with James Brown," said Mr. Atchley, who in later years became a political activist in Aiken County and met with Mr. Brown more than once.

"He said we need to stop and work together," Mr. Atchley said of the riots. "I remember him saying this is a lose-lose situation if we don't stop this."

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