As thousands line the streets of Harlem outside the Apollo Theater to pay tribute to James Brown, we air a historic interview and concert footage of Brown and the Rev. Al Sharpton from 1980. It was shot by Jon Alpert of Downtown Community Television. [rush transcript included]

Here in New York, thousands of people passed through Harlem's Apollo Theatre Thursday for one last look at the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Brown died Monday at the age of 73. Brown's golden casket was carried through Harlem by horse-drawn carriage and displayed for public viewing on the Apollo stage. Spectators braved five-hour waits to get a final glimpse at the man who revolutionized popular music. Democracy Now! caught up with some of the fans in the streets outside the Apollo.

* Voices from the streets of Harlem yesterday outside the Apollo.

As James Brown's body traveled on a horse-drawn carriage across Harlem's 125th street, thousands of fans followed behind singing the chorus to his anthem, "Say it Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud." Stores lining 125th street blared Brown's music and played his videos while fans danced and celebrated the life of the musical trailblazer.

Brown's body lay in state, or better yet lay in stage, for 9 hours at the Apollo - the theater where he made his explosive public debut in 1956 forever changing music history. A line to view Brown's body snaked for almost three city blocks. The Rev. Al Sharpton stood next to the open casket, where Brown was dressed in a purple sequined satin suit with white gloves and silver boots and a silver turtleneck. Sharpton addressed the public later in the evening.

Brown - who was 73 - died of heart failure Christmas morning. There will be a private ceremony today in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, and another public ceremony on Saturday - officiated by Sharpton - at the James Brown Arena there. He will be buried later that day.

Our colleague here in the firehouse - Jon Alpert - spent time interviewing Sharpton and Brown twenty-five years ago for a documentary about the music industry that he was working on at the time. Jon is a documentary filmmaker and the founder of Downtown Community Television -- welcome to Democracy Now!