Bobby Womack, Legendary Soul Singer, Dies At 70 (8519 hits)
Bobby Womack, the legendary soul singer whose career was launched by Sam Cooke, has died at the age of 70. The cause of death has not been given, but his death was confirmed by a representative from his label, XL Recordings, to Rolling Stone...
Womack was born in Cleveland on March 4, 1944 to a Baptist family. His father was a minister, and both parents were musicians in the church. Womack's music career started when he was only a child, performing with his four brothers as The Womack Brothers. In 1954, when Bobby Womack was only 10, the group released their first single, "Buffalo Bill."
Two years later, Sam Cooke would discover the group and eventually sign them to his SAR label. Renamed The Valentinos, their first hit was 1962's "Lookin' For A Love." Two years later they would release "It's All Over Now", later covered by The Rolling Stones and would become the Stones' first #1 single. Despite the success, Cooke's untimely death rattled The Valentinos who would eventually disband and SAR Records would fold. Womack created a scandal when he would marry Sam Cooke's 29-year-old widow, Babara Campbell, just three months after Cooke's death.
After The Valentinos, Womack worked as a session musician, writing songs and playing for artists including The Box Tops, Janis Joplin, Sly & The Family Stone, and Aretha Franklin. He also embarked on a solo career, and had a breakthrough with the 1971 album Communication and its hit single "That's The Way I Feel About Cha." He continued his success with his music through to the mid-70s, including the song "Across 110th Street" which scored the blaxploitation film of the same name (Quentin Tarantino would later use the song in Jackie Brown).
Bobby Womack was shocked by the news of his brother Harry's death in 1974, and his career took a downturn in the latter part of the 1970s. He enjoyed a brief return to success with 1981's "If You Think You're Lonely Now," his biggest hit in five years. He would experience another downturn in his career through his struggles with substance abuse and wouldn't clean up until the mid-90s.
Womack returned to recording and performing with the 1994 album Resurrection, and inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. He saw another career revival recently with 2012's critically acclaimed The Bravest Man In The Universe. In January, Bobby Womack told BBC Radio that he had the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. http://laist.com/2014/06/27/bobby_womack_l...
"Bobby Womack...Sky News...Ronnie Wood Pays tribute to his dear friend"
Chances are, if you play one of the legendary soul singer, Bobby Womackfs records in a club today, many will dance and even sing along. That is only a small portion of the legacy that Cleveland-born soul singer left before he died Friday, June 27, 2014 at the age of 70. He was suffering from colon cancer and diabetes at the time of his death. He was 70 years old.
The cause of death was unknown.
Womackfs career took off in the early 1960s with the Valentinos, after Sam Cooke added the group to his roster at SAR Records. After Cookefs death, Womack married his widow.
Womack went on to work as a session musician with Aretha Franklin and to become one of R&Bfs most well-known voices, the man behind albums like gAcross 110th Street,h gFacts of Life,h and gLookin for a Love Again.h
/* It was simply ironic. The other day I was hell-bent on hearing and playing everything and anything 'Bobby Womack!' I was watching 'Foxy Brown' the other night and had 'Across 110 and Tenth St.' in the que...
The news on the 'Telly' announced his passing...I was very sad and I thought of 'Sam Cooke.' I played both pieces and celebrated their being on this planet and leaving us with their gifts.
Thanks for checking it out G. You might be interested to know that Glide Magazine edited out my question and Mr. Womack's response on who he thought was responsible for Mr. Cooke's death.
Sunday, November 20th 2016 at 8:54PM
Tee Watts
