Bobby Womack passes away aged 70

Soul legend Bobby Womack has died aged 70.

The influential R&B singer-songwriter’s cause of death is yet to be confirmed after his record company XL announced his passing last night (June 27).

Bobby Womack began his career in music during his childhood singing alongside his siblings – Curtis, Cecil, Friendly Jr and Harry – as The Womack Brothers. The brothers worked with Sam Cooke after changing their name to The Valentinos but dissolved the group following the murder of Cooke.

As a musician Bobby Womack went on to play and write for Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin.

Womack signed a solo deal after Wilson Pickett flagged up his talent as a songwriter and recorded a number of his songs.

Much critical acclaim came in the early 1970s with his soundtrack to the Blaxploitation film ‘Across 110th Street’ and reaching the Top Ten on the Billboard chart with a re-working of the old Valentino’s track ‘Lookin’ For A Love’.

Following the death of his brother Harry and drug addiction in the mid-1980s his solo career temporarily slowed.

He returned to music in the 1990’s with the release of the album ‘Resurrection’. He went on to feature on the Gorillaz single ‘Stylo’ alongside Mos Def and Damon Albarn served as the producer on his final LP ‘The Bravest Man In The Universe’.

He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bobby Womack overcame colon cancer in 2012 after successful surgery to remove a tumour. He also suffered with diabetes and pneumonia as well as being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

An album Womack was working on prior to his death – titled ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ – is expected to be released later this year.

Listen to some of Bobby Womack’s greatest hits below: