Soul Music Genius Bobby Womack-R.I.P.

You've probably enjoyed the distinct voice of recording artist Bobby Womack. After a dramatic life filled with highs and lows, both personal and professional, the R&B legend went to his final rest in his sleep on June 27, 1014 at the age of 70.



Bobby Womack and Sam Cooke

Robert Dwayne 'Bobby" Womack grew up in the Cleveland slums, the third of five brothers. He taught himself to play the guitar, learning to play classical, soul, country-western, and rock and roll. His career as a recording artist began in the early 1960s and spanned seven decades. He met his mentor Sam Cooke while travelling the gospel music "highway" with his brothers.

When Cooke made the transition to R&B, Bobby followed. His skills as a guitarist led him to assignments backing up the likes of Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.  He performed with Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. His career was always plagued by his worst enemies, bad record deals and cocaine abuse.

In 1964, Bobby married Sam Cooke's widow Barbara Campbell who was 10 years his senior. The marriage was just three months after Cooke's funeral and resulted in Bobby being branded an opportunist and being ostracized by the soul-music world. In 1970, the marriage ended abruptly when his wife found him in bed with her teenage daughter, Linda. Barbara Womack shot her husband with a .32, grazing his temple and filed for divorce. Linda later married Bobby's younger brother Cecil.

 

 

Back in L.A., Bobby hung out with Keith Richards, Arthur Lee and Frank Zappa. He worked with John Lennon and Janis Joplin. Oddly enough, Bobby was with Janis on the last night of her life. His running partner was Sly Stone. Needless to say, Bobby's drug consumption reached epic proportions. He told Rolling Stone magazine about this abuse: "drinking, blowing coke, smoking weed and taking pills".

Meanwhile Bobby produced a string of classic R&B albums and a number of slow, groovy hit singles, i.e. "That's the Way I Feel About Cha", Woman's Gotta Have It", and "Harry Hippie", a tribute to his younger brother, who was fatally stabbed by his girlfriend.

In 2009, Bobby Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame., allowing his talents to be recognized by his peers and fans.

 

In recent years, Bobby suffered from multiple health issues, i.e. diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cancer. His life had been filled with personal tragedy including his still born child in the 60's, his son's death at 4 months in 1978, and is son's suicide in 1986 at age 21.

Rolling Stone called Womack "a true pioneer of soul and R&B whose voice and songwriting touched millions...His talents put him up there with the greats".

Rest in Peace, Bobby.

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