Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu

Harmoniker Roots blog

Blues to Americana, Folk to Country from Capital Public Radio.

subscribe

 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Legendary Soul Singer Bobby Womack Dies At 70

Friday, June 27, 2014
Borberg Thomas / AP

Bobby Womack plays at the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark, last July. Womack died on Friday at age 70.

Borberg Thomas / AP

NPR | Scott Neuman

Legendary soul singer Bobby Womack, who rose to prominence with such hits as "Lookin' For A Love" and "That's The Way I Feel About 'Cha," died Friday at age 70, his publicist says.

Womack began putting out records in the early 1960s as the lead singer of The Valentinos. He straddled styles ranging from R&B to country.

The Valentinos' hit "It's All Over Now," was recorded by the Rolling Stones and went to Number One on the U.K. singles charts.

Variety says Womack was "A gutsy singer and a superlative axe man" who "charted nearly 50 hits, the majority of them self-penned, during his career of more than 40 years."

The magazine says:

"Born in Cleveland to a musical and religious family, Womack began singing and playing guitar at an early age. He toured the gospel circuit with his brothers. Cooke – also a product of gospel music, and the former lead singer of the Soul Stirrers – took the act under his wing, and recorded for SAR with a new moniker. After scoring a No. 8 hit in 1962 with "Lookin' For a Love," the group reached No. 21 in 1964 with "It's All Over Now," which the Rolling Stones turned into a top 30 pop hit the same year.

"After Cooke was shot and killed in an incident in a Los Angeles motel in 1964, the Valentinos disbanded. Womack scandalously married Cooke's widow Barbara three months after the singer's death."

Rolling Stone writes:

"In 2012, Womack began a career renaissance with the release of The Bravest Man in the Universe, his first album in more than 10 years. Produced by Damon Albarn and XL's Richard Russell, the album made Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2012 alongside numerous other critical accolades. "You know more at 65 than you did at 25. I understand the songs much better now," Womack told Rolling Stone at the time. "It's not about 14 Rolls Royces and two Bentleys. Even if this album never sells a nickel, I know I put my best foot forward." Upon his death, Womack was in the process of recording his next album for XL, tentatively titled The Best Is Yet to Come and reportedly featuring contributions by Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Snoop Dogg.

"Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. 'My very first thought was — I wish I could call Sam Cooke and share this moment with him,' Womack said. 'This is just about as exciting to me as being able to see Barack Obama become the first black President of the United States of America! It proves that, if you're blessed to be able to wait on what's important to you, a lot of things will change in life.'"

 Bobby Womackobituarysoul

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More From CapRadio Music

Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Gustavo Dudamel's new musical home is the New York Philharmonic

February 08, 2023
Nicholai Hammar/NPR

Lara Downes' season 3 of 'Amplify' launches with a theme of renaissance

February 02, 2023
Photo by Emmanuelle Yang

How June Swoon singer Juli Lydell started swimming in surrender

February 03, 2023
We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

More From CapRadio Music

Nicholai Hammar/NPR

Lara Downes' season 3 of 'Amplify' launches with a theme of renaissance

February 02, 2023
Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Gustavo Dudamel's new musical home is the New York Philharmonic

February 08, 2023
Photo by Emmanuelle Yang

How June Swoon singer Juli Lydell started swimming in surrender

February 03, 2023

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.