James Brown (R), the Godfather of Soul, and Toni Rea in Washington, DC. Brown was arrested 28 January, 2004 and charged with criminal domestic violence. PHOTO - TASR/AFP

MIAMI - The „Godfather of Soul," James Brown, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of committing domestic violence, South Carolina law enforcement officials said. Brown, 70, who has had several run-ins with the law and spent time in prison, was due to appear at a bond hearing on Thursday, a spokesman for the Aiken County detention center said. Neither the Aiken County Sheriff's office nor the detention center would comment further.

The soul singer, famous for hits including „I Feel Good," was previously accused of beating his wife, Adrienne, in 1995. Brown served nearly three years in prison after he was arrested in 1988 for leading police on a car chase between South Carolina and Georgia. He also received a two-year suspended sentence in 1998 and entered a drug treatment program after pleading no contest to firearms charges.

Despite his turbulent past, last month he was among five stars feted in Washington for his contributions to American culture. Brown appeared at a White House reception before taking part in a gala performance attended by U.S. President George W. Bush at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The honor prompted U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to dub Brown the „Secretary of Soul and the Foreign Minister of Funk." Reuters