"He said ... 'I love Michael.' He said, 'Tell him don't worry about coming home. They always scandalize those that have the talent. But tell him we need to clean up the music and I want Michael and all of them that imitated me to come back and lift the music back.'"

Jackson, who has been living abroad since being found not guilty of molestation charges in California in June 2005, called Brown "my greatest inspiration." He told the audience of 9,000 at the James Brown Arena that from the age of 6 his mother would make him watch television whenever Brown came on to perform .

"When I saw him move I was mesmerized," Jackson, 48, said. "I've never seen a performer perform like James Brown and right then and there I knew that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

"James Brown, I shall miss you and I love you so much. Thank you for everything," said Jackson, who wore a black leather jacket, black pants and sunglasses.