Soul legend Bobby Womack died earlier today at the age of 70. Womack’s career spanned nearly six decades, as he worked with artists like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and more modern groups such as Gorillaz. He originally rose to prominence as the lead singer of The Valentinos aka The Womack Brothers.
His biggest hits as a solo artist included: “That’s the Way I Feel About ‘Cha,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It,” “Across 110th Street,” and “Inherit The Wind” and “If You Think You’re lonely Now.”
Like his music career, his personal life was sometimes tumultuous. Womack married Barbara Campbell, the widow of musician Sam Cooke just three months after his death in 1964 and remained married until they divorced in 1970. He also struggled with cocaine addiction which he claimed was partly due to the death of his four month son in the 1970’s.
Womack was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012 and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. According to him, he was also in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease as he began to struggle to remember people’s names and his own songs.
Womack recently performed at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee on June 14 where he seemed to be in great spirits.
