American soul music legend Bobby Womack has died at the age of 70, Rolling Stone reports.
A spokesperson from XL Recordings, the label representing the singer-songwriter, confirmed the death to the magazine on Friday.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack was raised in a musical home with his four brothers. They followed the footsteps of their gospel-singing father and formed an act called “The Womack Brothers.” They began touring shortly after.
While on tour, they met singer Sam Cooke and moved to California to chase their musical dreams. Womack began his solo career after Cooke was shot and killed in 1964.
From the 1970s to 1990s, 36 of Womack's singles made the charts. Over a career that spanned seven decades, he also collaborated with top soul and R&B acts including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Dusty Springfield.
Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 2012, Womack was diagnosed with colon cancer. Last year, he revealed he's been suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. He also admitted he was having trouble remembering his songs.
“It’s not bad yet but will get worse,” Womack told The Sun. “How Can I not remember songs I wrote? It’s frustrating.”
Despite the cognitive problems he faced in light of his diagnosis, Womack released a highly-acclaimed 11-track album in 2012 titled, “The Bravest Man In The World.”
The cause of Womack's death remains unknown.
A spokesperson from XL Recordings, the label representing the singer-songwriter, confirmed the death to the magazine on Friday.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack was raised in a musical home with his four brothers. They followed the footsteps of their gospel-singing father and formed an act called “The Womack Brothers.” They began touring shortly after.
While on tour, they met singer Sam Cooke and moved to California to chase their musical dreams. Womack began his solo career after Cooke was shot and killed in 1964.
From the 1970s to 1990s, 36 of Womack's singles made the charts. Over a career that spanned seven decades, he also collaborated with top soul and R&B acts including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Dusty Springfield.
Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 2012, Womack was diagnosed with colon cancer. Last year, he revealed he's been suffering with Alzheimer’s disease. He also admitted he was having trouble remembering his songs.
“It’s not bad yet but will get worse,” Womack told The Sun. “How Can I not remember songs I wrote? It’s frustrating.”
Despite the cognitive problems he faced in light of his diagnosis, Womack released a highly-acclaimed 11-track album in 2012 titled, “The Bravest Man In The World.”
The cause of Womack's death remains unknown.