A question has been raised on what transpired a night music legend James Brown died.

More than a dozen people close to the late music legend have told a new series on US news broadcaster, CNN that they want a new post mortem or a criminal probing of his death.

The Godfather of Soul died in on Christmas Day 2006 at the age of 73, following a heart attack.

Dr Marvin Crawford, who signed the singer's death certificate told CNN he did not believe Brown died of natural causes.

"He changed too fast," Crawford said. "He died that night, and I did raise that question: What went wrong in that room?"

Brown's manager, his widow, his son, and several friends and associates have all apparently raised similar questions about his death.