The music world has lost another giant. Soul and R&B legend Bobby Womack passed away at his home on Friday, June 27th at the age of 70. Best known for rocking big shades and a crooning voice, Womack’s catalogue includes classics such as “It’s All Over Now,” “That’s the Way I Feel About Cha,” and “Woman’s Gotta Have It.”
Womack had dealt with a myriad of health issues since the ‘80s, including drug and alcohol addiction, cancer, and diabetes. While no official cause of death has been announced, Rolling Stone magazine was given confirmation of his death. Womack leaves behind him an impressive career of nearly 50 years.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Womack had both an exuberant and troubled career. He was signed by Sam Cooke’s label, SAR Records, in 1960 while a primary member of the Valentinos (formerly Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers). Once Cooke passed away, the Valentinos split and Womack went on to marry Cooke’s wife, Barbara Campbell. He had a slew of chart-topping albums in the ‘70s, only to fall into relative obscurity until a comeback was staged in 1981 with the hit, “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” But as is the case with too many artists, with the comeback came a rugged battle with addiction, leading to rehab and another stall in his career.
It looked as if Womack was in for a new professional surge when he released the 2012 LP, Bravest Man in the Universe, which was listed as one of Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2012. Upon the record’s release, he told Rolling Stone, “You know more at 65 than you did at 25. I understand the songs much better now.”
Unfortunately, Womack wasn’t able to fully apply that sentiment to his next album, having passed away while in the process of recording what was tentatively —and fittingly — titled, The Best Is Yet to Come.