Robert Dwayne Womack (; March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American singer, musician and songwriter. Starting in the early 1950s as the lead singer of his family musical group
the Valentinos and as
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred ...
's backing guitarist, Womack's career spanned more than 60 years and multiple styles, including
R&B,
jazz,
soul,
rock and roll,
doo-wop
Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...
, and
gospel.
Womack was a prolific songwriter who wrote and originally recorded, (with his brothers, the Valentinos),
the Rolling Stones' first UK number one hit ("
It's All Over Now") and
New Birth's "
I Can Understand It
"I Can Understand It" is a soul classic written and originally recorded by rhythm and blues musician Bobby Womack, who originally recorded the song for his top ten album, ''Understanding'', released in late 1972. The Womack version was done in a mo ...
". As a singer, he is most notable for the hits "
Lookin' for a Love", "
That's the Way I Feel About Cha
"That's the Way I Feel About Cha" is a 1972 single co-written, produced and recorded by American rhythm and blues/soul music performer, Bobby Womack, and also became the musician's first crossover Top 40 single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reac ...
", "
Woman's Gotta Have It
''Woman's Gotta Have It'' is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.
Recording and release
The song ''My Dancing Days Are Done'' is performed in French (''mes jours de bal perdus'') by the guest singers Parsley and Sasha Andres. The ...
", "
Harry Hippie
"Harry Hippie" is a 1972 song written by Jim Ford, who wrote it for singer Bobby Womack as a dedication to his brother, bass guitarist Harry Womack
Harris "Harry" Womack (June 25, 1945 – March 9, 1974) was an American singer and musician, mo ...
", "
Across 110th Street", and his 1980s hits "
If You Think You're Lonely Now" and "
I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much".
In 2009, Womack was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
.
Early life
Born in
Cleveland's
Fairfax
Fairfax may refer to:
Places United States
* Fairfax, California
* Fairfax Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, California
* Fairfax District, Los Angeles, California, centered on Fairfax Avenue
* Fairfax, Georgia
* Fairfax, Indiana
* Fa ...
neighborhood, near East 85th Street and Quincy Avenue, to Naomi Womack and Friendly Womack, Bobby was the third brother of five.
Friendly Jr. and Curtis were Bobby's older brothers, and
Harry and
Cecil
Cecil may refer to:
People with the name
* Cecil (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name)
* Cecil (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Canada
*Cecil, Alberta, ...
were his younger brothers. They all grew up in the Cleveland slums, so poor that the family would fish pig snouts out of the local supermarket's trash. He had to share a bed with his brothers.
His mother told him he could "sing his way out of the ghetto."
Recalling his childhood, Bobby said, "we came up very poor. My kids have had a much better life than I'd ever thought of livin,'"
and, "the neighborhood was so ghetto that we didn't bother the rats and they didn't bother us."
Raised
Baptist, their mother played the organ for the church choir, and their father was a steelworker,
part-time minister, and musician who played the guitar and also sang gospel. Their father repeatedly ordered his sons to not touch his guitar while he was away, yet all five brothers regularly played it while their father was at work. One night, eight-year-old Bobby broke a guitar string, then tried to replace the string with a
shoelace. After Friendly deduced that Bobby (who was missing a shoelace) had broken the string, he offered Bobby the chance to play the guitar for him in lieu of a whipping.
Soon afterwards, Friendly bought guitars for all five of his sons. Because Bobby was left-handed, he flipped his guitar upside-down to play, not knowing that the guitar could have been restrung to accommodate a left-handed player.
Career
By the mid-1950s,
10-year-old Bobby was touring with his brothers on the midwest gospel circuit as The Womack Brothers,
along with Naomi on organ and Friendly Sr. on guitar. In 1954, under the moniker Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers, the group issued the Pennant single, "Buffalo Bill".
More records followed.
[
]Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred ...
, the lead singer of The Soul Stirrers, first saw the group performing in the mid-1950s. He became their mentor and helped them go on tour. They went on national tours with The Staple Singers.[ Even though Curtis often sang lead, Bobby was allowed to sing alongside him showcasing his gruff baritone vocals in contrast to his older brother's smoother tenor. During performances, Bobby would sometimes imitate the role of a preacher, which later became his nickname.] At just 16, Bobby dropped out of high school.[
At the beginning of the 1960s, Cooke formed SAR Records and signed the quintet to the label in 1961, where they released a handful of gospel singles.] Then, Cooke changed their name to the Valentinos, relocated them to Los Angeles and convinced them to transition from gospel music to secular soul-and pop-influenced sound.[ Cooke produced and arranged the group's first hit single, " Lookin' for a Love", which was a pop version of the gospel song, "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", they had recorded earlier. The song became an R&B hit and helped land the group an opening spot for ]James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
's tour. The group's next hit came in 1964 with the country-tinged " It's All Over Now", co-composed by Bobby. Their version was rising on the charts when The Rolling Stones covered it.
Womack was also a member of Cooke's band, touring and recording with him from 1961. The Valentinos' career was left shaky after Sam Cooke was shot and killed in a Los Angeles motel. Devastated by the news, the brothers disbanded and SAR Records folded. Womack attempted to start his solo career in 1965, first recording for Him Records and later the Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll ...
subsidiary, Checker Records
Checker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary of Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded ...
. Womack faced backlash after his marriage to Cooke's widow Barbara Cooke. He would go to radio stations and disc jockeys would throw away his records. He continued to work as a session musician
Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...
. Between 1965 and 1968, he toured and recorded with Ray Charles.
1967–1972: Early solo career
Circa 1965, Womack relocated to Memphis where he worked at Chips Moman
Lincoln Wayne "Chips" Moman (June 12, 1937 – June 13, 2016) was an American record producer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is known for working in R&B, pop music and country music, operating American Sound Studios and producing hit albums lik ...
's American Studios. He played guitar on recordings by Joe Tex and the Box Tops
The Box Tops is an American rock band formed in Memphis in 1967. They are best known for the hits " The Letter", " Cry Like a Baby", "Choo Choo Train," and " Soul Deep" and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period. They perfo ...
. Womack played guitar on several of Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
's albums, including '' Lady Soul'', but not on the hit song " Chain of Fools", as erroneously reported. His work as a songwriter caught the eye of music executives after Wilson Pickett took a liking to some of Womack's songs and insisted on recording them. Among the songs were "I'm a Midnight Mover" and " I'm in Love".
In 1968, Bobby signed with Minit Records and recorded his first solo album, ''Fly Me to the Moon
"Fly Me to the Moon", originally titled "In Other Words", is a song written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The first recording of the song was made in 1954 by Kaye Ballard. Frank Sinatra's 1964 version was closely associated with the Apollo missions ...
'', where he scored his first major hit with a cover of Barry McGuire' " California Dreamin'". In 1969, Womack forged a partnership with Gábor Szabó and with Szabó, penned the instrumental " Breezin'", later a hit for George Benson. Womack also worked with rock musicians Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...
, contributing vocals and guitar work on the Family Stone's accomplished album ''There's a Riot Goin' On
''There's a Riot Goin' On'' (sometimes referred to as ''Riot'') is the fifth studio album by American funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. It was recorded from 1970 to 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California and released lat ...
'', and penning the ballad "Trust Me", for Joplin on her album '' Pearl''. In fact, Womack was one of the last people to see Joplin alive, having visited her hours before she died at the Landmark Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
After two more albums with Minit, Bobby switched labels, signing with United Artists where he changed his attire and his musical direction with the album '' Communication''. The album bolstered his first top 40 hit, "That's the Way I Feel About Cha
"That's the Way I Feel About Cha" is a 1972 single co-written, produced and recorded by American rhythm and blues/soul music performer, Bobby Womack, and also became the musician's first crossover Top 40 single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reac ...
", which peaked at number two R&B and number 27 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the spring of 1972.
1972–1989: Solo success
Following ''Communication'', Womack's profile was raised with two more albums, released in 1972. The first was '' Understanding'', noted for the track "I Can Understand It
"I Can Understand It" is a soul classic written and originally recorded by rhythm and blues musician Bobby Womack, who originally recorded the song for his top ten album, ''Understanding'', released in late 1972. The Womack version was done in a mo ...
", later covered by the funk band New Birth and a three-sibling lineup of Bobby's old group, the Valentinos, and two hit singles, "Woman's Gotta Have It
''Woman's Gotta Have It'' is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.
Recording and release
The song ''My Dancing Days Are Done'' is performed in French (''mes jours de bal perdus'') by the guest singers Parsley and Sasha Andres. The ...
" and "Harry Hippie
"Harry Hippie" is a 1972 song written by Jim Ford, who wrote it for singer Bobby Womack as a dedication to his brother, bass guitarist Harry Womack
Harris "Harry" Womack (June 25, 1945 – March 9, 1974) was an American singer and musician, mo ...
". The latter song was written for Womack by Jim Ford in a country version, which Womack re-arranged in an R&B version. "Harry Hippie" later became Womack's first single to be certified gold. "Woman's Gotta Have It" became Womack's first single to hit number one on the R&B charts.
Another hit album released after ''Understanding'' was the soundtrack to the blaxploitation
Blaxploitation is an ethnic subgenre of the exploitation film that emerged in the United States during the early 1970s. The term, a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation", was coined in August 1972 by Junius Griffin, the president o ...
film '' Across 110th Street''. The title track became popular during its initial 1972 release and later would be played during the opening and closing scenes of the 1997 film, '' Jackie Brown''. In 1973, Womack released another hit album, '' Facts of Life'', and had a top 40 hit with " Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," an older song Sam Cooke had done years before.
In 1974, Womack released his most successful single during this period with a remake of his first hit single, " Lookin' for a Love". His solo version of the song became even more successful than the original with the Valentinos, becoming his second number one hit on the R&B chart and peaking at number ten on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming his only hit to reach that high on the pop chart. The song was featured on the album ''Lookin' for a Love Again
''Lookin' for a Love Again'' is the sixth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released on January 11, 1974, by United Artists Records. The album reached #85 on the '' Billboard'' U.S. Pop Charts and #5 on the Billboard ...
'' and featured the minor charted "You're Welcome, Stop on By", later covered by Rufus & Chaka Khan
Rufus is an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois, best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good", " Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel" ...
. Womack's career began stalling after Womack received the news of his brother Harry's death. Womack continued to record albums with United Artists through 1975 and 1976 but with less success than previous albums. In 1975, Womack collaborated with Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
member Ronnie Wood, on Wood's second solo album, ''Now Look
''Now Look'' is the second solo album by English musician Ronnie Wood, released in July 1975. In the United States, it peaked at number 118 on ''Billboard''s top 200 albums listings, during a six-week chart run. Produced by Wood, Bobby Womack an ...
''. In 1976, Womack organized a benefit at the Hollywood Palladium to raise funds for his friend, singer Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy Wilson Jr. (June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984) was an American singer and performer of the 1950s and 60s. He was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement", he was considered a mas ...
, who had suffered a heart attack.
Womack languished with his own recordings during the late 1970s but continued to be a frequent collaborator with other artists, most notably Wilton Felder of the Crusaders. After his son Truth Bobby died in 1978, Womack formed a production company named Truth. He hired a new co-producer and Keyboardist, Patrick Moten
Patrick Lawrence Moten (March 17, 1957 – November 22, 1999) was an American musician, songwriter, producer, and arranger. He primarily performed on piano and organ. Moten was best known as the musical director for Bobby Womack and Gerald A ...
who worked with Ike Turner and Natalie Cole, and released the album ''Roads of Life
''Roads of Life'' is the twelfth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released in 1979, by Arista Records. It was dedicated to his late son Truth Womack (January 27, 1978 – June 2, 1978). The album was Bobby Womack's o ...
'' on Arista Records
Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
in 1979.
In 1980, Wilton Felder released the album ''Inherit the Wind'' on MCA Records which featured Womack. He had a soulful song featuring on the Wilton Felder single "(No Matter How High I Get) I'll Still Be Looking Up to You", which was originally recorded in 1979 as a bonus track for the same 1980 album although it was officially released in 1985. This song became a soul classic, notably in the UK— Robbie Vincent at Radio London included the track as one of his all-time winners in October 1982. In 1981, Womack signed with Beverly Glen Records and had his first R&B top 10 single in five years—since the 1976 single "Daylight
Daylight is the combination of all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime. This includes direct sunlight, diffuse sky radiation, and (often) both of these reflected by Earth and terrestrial objects, like landforms and buildings. Sunligh ...
"—with " If You Think You're Lonely Now" that peaked at number three on the R&B singles chart. His accompanying album '' The Poet'' reached number one on the R&B album charts and is now seen as the high point of his long career, bringing him wider acclaim not only in the U.S. but also in Europe. He had two more R&B top 10 singles during the 1980s including the Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman.
LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul".
She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
duet, " Love Has Finally Come at Last" (1984), and " I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much" (1985). In 1986, Bobby recorded soul song "Living in a Box" with new group Living in a Box.
1990–2014: Later career
In 1993 Bobby Womack and Lulu released song "I'm Back for more". Womack's solo career started to slow down after 1994. In the mid-1990s, he released his twentieth studio album, '' Resurrection'' on his close friend's Ronnie Wood's label. The album included session background work from admiring associates that included Rod Stewart
Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...
, Ronald Isley, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts
Charles Robert Watts (2 June 1941 – 24 August 2021) was an English musician who achieved international fame as the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021.
Originally trained as a graphic artist, Watts developed an i ...
. His remaining brothers from the Valentinos, Curtis, Friendly and Cecil
Cecil may refer to:
People with the name
* Cecil (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name)
* Cecil (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Canada
*Cecil, Alberta, ...
, featured as background singers. Two singles from the album—a duet with Ronald Isley, "Tryin' Not to Break Down", and "Forever Love"—appeared on the Billboard R&B chart, but although the album contained two of Womack's best latter songs, "Cousin Henry" and "Don't Break Your Promise (Too Soon)", the album received a mixed critical reception. Judges sitting in the high court in London in 2003 ruled that Bobby Womack stole the song "Cry Myself to Sleep" which appeared on the album from Liverpool musician and songwriter Mark Thomas, who never received the outstanding royalty payments due to him.
A gospel album, ''Back to My Roots
"Back to My Roots" is a song by American dance music singer and drag queen RuPaul, released as the fourth single from his album ''Supermodel of the World'', released on April 27, 1993. Although the single failed to chart on the ''Billboard'' Ho ...
'', appeared at the end of the decade, but Womack largely concentrated on session and guest work for the next ten years.
In 1986, The Manhattans released the album ''Back To Basics'', which contained songs written and produced by Womack. Womack contributed vocals and acoustic guitar to the songs "Where Did We Go Wrong" (duet with Regina Belle), "I'm Through Trying to Prove My Love to You", "Mr D.J." and "Back into the Night".
He is the featured vocalist on June Yamagishi's ''My Pleasure'' album, on "Inherit The Wind", a track credited to Wilton Felder, and with Allen Toussaint
Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...
on "Sputin", and he contributed vocals to Rae & Christian's version of " Wake Up Everybody". Other collaborations included " You Got What It Takes" with Diane Schuur, "Ain't Nothing Like The Lovin' We Got" with Shirley Brown, "Break the Chain" with Andrew Love & Wayne Jackson and " It's a Man's Man's Man's World" with Jeanie Tracy.
In 1989, Womack sang on Todd Rundgren's "For the Want of a Nail" on the album ''Nearly Human
''Nearly Human'' is a 1989 album by the rock musician Todd Rundgren, released by Warner Bros. Records. It was his first release in four years, although he had been active as a producer in the intervening years. Many of the album's songs deal with l ...
''. In 1998, he performed George Gershwin's " Summertime" with The Roots
The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...
for the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization (RHO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.
Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilati ...
's compilation album '' Red Hot + Rhapsody'', a tribute to Gershwin, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
awareness and fighting the disease.
In October 1992, Womack held four tribute concert for his friend Eddie Kendricks. Womack planned the concert before Kendricks, who suffered from lung cancer, died on October 5, 1992. Womack headlined the concert; other performers included Chaka Khan
Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
, Mary Wilson, and Bill Withers.
In 2010, Womack contributed lyrics and sang on " Stylo" alongside Mos Def, the first single from the third Gorillaz
Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, ...
album ''Plastic Beach
''Plastic Beach'' is the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 3 March 2010 by Parlophone internationally and by Virgin Records in the United States. Conceived from an unfinished project called ''Carousel'', th ...
''. Womack was told to sing whatever was on his mind during the recording of "Stylo". "I was in there for an hour going crazy about love and politics, getting it off my chest," said Womack. He also provided vocals on the song "Cloud of Unknowing" in addition to the song "Bobby in Phoenix" on their December 2010 release '' The Fall''.
A new album was released on June 12, 2012, by XL Recordings. The album, '' The Bravest Man in the Universe'', was produced by Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn (; born 23 March 1968) is an English-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter and composer, best known as the frontman and primary lyricist of the rock band Blur and as the co-creator and primary musical contributor of the virtual ...
and Richard Russell. The first Song "Please Forgive My Heart
"Please Forgive My Heart" is a single from American soul artist Bobby Womack for his album ''The Bravest Man in the Universe''. Released on June 8, 2012, it was his first studio album since 2000 and his first album of original material since 1994' ...
" was offered as a free download on XL Recordings' official website on March 8, 2012. Contact Music reported that Womack was working on a blues album called ''Living in the House of Blues'', featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
, Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...
, and Rod Stewart
Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...
. In an interview with ''Uncut
Uncut may refer to:
* ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship
* ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997
* '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...
'', Womack revealed that the follow-up album would now be called ''The Best Is Yet to Come'' and feature Teena Marie and Ronnie Isley.
Womack sang a duet with Van Morrison titled "Some Peace of Mind" on Morrison's 2015 album '' Duets: Re-working the Catalogue''. Womack collaborated with Rudimental on "New Day", a song taken from their second studio album, '' We the Generation''. He had expressed an interest in working with the group, and they had exchanged ideas. Following Womack's death, his wife sent the group an a cappella
''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
vocal which he had recorded for them, and they pieced together the track.
Womack's final concert was June 14, 2014 at the Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Since its first year in 2002, it has been held at what is now Great Stage Park on a farm in ...
in Tennessee.[
]
Musical legacy
Throughout his long recording career, many of Womack's songs have been covered by other artists. In addition to the famous Rolling Stones' version of " It's All Over Now", it has charted also with versions by Patti Drew
Patti Drew (born December 29, 1944, Charleston, South Carolina) is an American pop singer who achieved brief success in the late 1960s.
Drew was raised in Nashville, Tennessee and Evanston, Illinois, where she sang in church with her sisters, Lorr ...
in 1966 and as a duet between Womack and Bill Withers in 1975. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s other artists regularly recorded his songs. They included Ella Washington and Baby Washington
Justine Washington (born October 13, 1940), usually credited as Baby Washington, but credited on some early records as Jeanette (Baby) Washington, is an American soul music vocalist, who had 16 ''Billboard'' R&B chart entries in 15 years, most ...
, who recorded "I Can't Afford to Lose Him" in 1968, Jerry Butler, who released "Yes My Goodness Yes" in 1968, Margie Joseph, who issued "What You Gonna Do", and Roosevelt Grier, who had an R&B success with "People Make the World". One of his most famous songs, "Trust Me", was recorded by Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...
and later by Winfield Parker amongst others. Whilst his songs are famous, Bobby Womack is not one of the most famous soul singers. The 1960s and 1970s were especially profitable years for Womack's songwriting, either solo efforts or in partnership with the likes of Darryl Carter and Jim Ford. Whilst working as a session musician with Wilson Pickett he regularly contributed songs, including the original version of " I'm In Love", later covered by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
. Another Atlantic Record
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
s artist, Percy Sledge, issued "Baby Help Me" in 1967. The J. Geils Band
The J. Geils Band was an American rock band formed in 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils. The original band members included vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard "Magic ...
covered " Lookin' for a Love", released on several albums, including the live album '' Blow Your Face Out''.
In the following decade, Millie Jackson with "Put Something Down On It", Kokomo and New Birth with "I Can Understand It
"I Can Understand It" is a soul classic written and originally recorded by rhythm and blues musician Bobby Womack, who originally recorded the song for his top ten album, ''Understanding'', released in late 1972. The Womack version was done in a mo ...
", Ronnie Wood with "I Got A Feeling", and George Benson with the instrumental " Breezin'", recorded versions of Womack songs. Lou Donaldson, the American jazz saxophonist, reinterpreted "You're Welcome To Stop On By" in 1974. The British singer Rod Stewart
Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...
used the distinctive string arrangement from "Put Something Down On It" for his massive hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, ''Blondes Have More Fun'' (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice and Duane Hitchings, though it inco ...
". Other significant artists to record Bobby Womack songs include: Georgie Fame and Kelly Rowland and Vicki Sue Robinson, 1976 with "Daylight", Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
and O V Wright's separate covers of "That's The Way I Feel About You" and reggae acts Dennis Alcapone, who issued a distinctive version of "Harry Hippie
"Harry Hippie" is a 1972 song written by Jim Ford, who wrote it for singer Bobby Womack as a dedication to his brother, bass guitarist Harry Womack
Harris "Harry" Womack (June 25, 1945 – March 9, 1974) was an American singer and musician, mo ...
" entitled "Sorry Harry", and Triston Palma, who issued "Love Has Finally Come at Last" in 1984.
Jodeci's K-Ci Hailey
Cedric Renard Hailey (born September 2, 1969), known professionally as K-Ci (formerly Little Cedric as a member of Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers), is an American singer, songwriter and member of K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci.
Although Hailey i ...
, a notable admirer of Womack's work, covered "If You Think You're Lonely Now" in 1994. Hailey again covered Womack in 2006 with his rendition of "A Woman's Gotta Have It". The song is referenced in Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
's song "We Belong Together
"We Belong Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her 10th studio album, ''The Emancipation of Mimi'' (2005). The song was released on March 15, 2005, through Island Records, as the second single from the album. "W ...
", a number one hit in June 2005. Carey sings "I can't sleep at night / When you are on my mind / Bobby Womack's on the radio / Singing to me: 'If you think you're lonely now.' " In 2007, R&B singer Jaheim interpolated the song as "Lonely" on his album ''The Makings of a Man
''The Makings of a Man'' is the fourth studio album by Jaheim
Jaheim H. Hoagland (born May 26, 1978), known mononymously as Jaheim, is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer. He was signed by Naughty by Nature's Kaygee to Divine Mill Records ...
''. Neo soul singer Calvin Richardson also covered many of Womack's tunes. "That's the Way I Feel About Cha
"That's the Way I Feel About Cha" is a 1972 single co-written, produced and recorded by American rhythm and blues/soul music performer, Bobby Womack, and also became the musician's first crossover Top 40 single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reac ...
" was covered by the late R&B musician Gerald Levert and fellow singer Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
on Levert's 1998 album ''Love & Consequences
''Love & Consequences'' is the third studio album by the American R&B singer Gerald Levert. It was released on July 21, 1998, on East West Records. In addition to his longtime collaborator, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, Levert worked with more writers ...
''.
Film director Quentin Tarantino used "Across 110th Street (song)
"Across 110th Street" is a single by Bobby Womack, from the soundtrack and film of the same name that starred Anthony Quinn and Yaphet Kotto.
Background
The single was released in February 1973 on the United Artists label. Credited to Bobby Wom ...
" (which, in a different version, had been the title song of the 1972 movie) in the opening and closing sequences of his 1997 film '' Jackie Brown''. His work has been used in several other popular films, including ''Meet the Parents
''Meet the Parents'' is a 2000 American comedy film written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg and directed by Jay Roach. It chronicles a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless nurse (Ben Stiller as Greg Focker) while v ...
'' (2000), '' Ali'' (2001) and '' American Gangster'' (2007). A 2003 Saab commercial used Womack's interpretation of "California Dreamin." In 2005, "Across 110th Street" appeared in the hit Activision video game '' True Crime: New York City''.
On the 1994 release ''1-800-NEW-FUNK
''1-800-NEW-FUNK'' is a compilation album by Prince's NPG Records, meant to showcase artists signed to the record label. It was released on July 20, 1994. The title of the album was also a toll-free phone number in North America for customers t ...
'', Nona Gaye covered "Woman's Gotta Have It
''Woman's Gotta Have It'' is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.
Recording and release
The song ''My Dancing Days Are Done'' is performed in French (''mes jours de bal perdus'') by the guest singers Parsley and Sasha Andres. The ...
", produced by Prince and backed by his band, New Power Generation.
During the spring of 1997, R&B singer Rome covered the original song from his self-titled debut album.
In 2008, Kelly Rowland recorded her own version of his R&B hit "Daylight
Daylight is the combination of all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime. This includes direct sunlight, diffuse sky radiation, and (often) both of these reflected by Earth and terrestrial objects, like landforms and buildings. Sunligh ...
" with Travis McCoy
Travis Lazarus "Travie" McCoy (born August 5, 1981) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is the co-founder and former lead vocalist of the rap rock band Gym Class Heroes, in addition to having a solo career. McCoy became involved w ...
of the Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes was an American rap rock band from Geneva, New York. The group formed in 1997 when Travie McCoy met drummer Matt McGinley during their high school gym class. The band's music displays a wide variety of influences, including hip h ...
, which became a hit in the UK Singles Chart, where it was previously released as a single by Womack in 1976.
In 2009, Calvin Richardson was chosen to record a tribute album to Womack to coincide with Womack's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
. The Grammy-nominated album was entitled '' Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack''. It reached No. 30 on the US R&B chart.
In early 2012, Womack's career was the subject of the documentary show '' Unsung'' on TV One.
Personal life
Marriages
On February 26, 1965, 77 days after Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred ...
's death, 20-year-old Womack and Cooke's widow Barbara Cooke, who was 10 years his senior, attempted to marry at the Los Angeles county courthouse. Womack wore one of Cooke's suits to the courthouse and the media was present to record the event, but their application was rejected. According to the '' Los Angeles Sentinel'', it was denied because Womack was under 21 years old and did not have his parents' permission to marry. They were finally married on March 5, the day after his 21st birthday. Their marriage was considered a scandal by some in the music business and Womack found himself ostracized in the soul music world. Womack's brothers turned against him, as did his audiences and disc jockeys. Cooke's family was also enraged. His brothers Charles and David Cook broke Womack's jaw during an attack at a hotel in Chicago. Womack later claimed he initially went to Barbara's side to console her following Cooke's death for fear that if she were left alone, she would "do something crazy."
In 1970, Womack and Barbara separated after she discovered he was having an affair with his 17-year-old stepdaughter Linda Cooke (daughter of Barbara and Sam Cooke). In the ensuing tussle, Barbara fired a gun at her husband and the bullet grazed his head. Their divorce was finalized in 1971. According to Womack, Linda never spoke to her mother again.
Womack married his second wife Evelyn Evans when he was 29. She was his personal secretary.
On December 31, 1975, Womack married his third wife, 19-year-old Regina Banks. Together they had three children. In the early 1990s, Regina left him and went to New York. They later remarried in 2013.
Children
Womack had six children, with two passing away before him.
Womack's firstborn from his marriage to Barbara, Vincent Dwayne Womack, was born in 1966. He committed suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...
at the age of 21 by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Barbara had two daughters from her previous marriage to Sam Cooke, Tracy and Linda. She also had a son, Vincent Lance Cooke (1961–1963), who drowned in the family pool aged 18 months.
Womack had two sons Truth Bobby (1978–1978) and Bobby Truth, and a daughter, GinaRe, with his wife Regina. Truth Bobby, whose name was suggested by Womack's friend Sly Stone, died aged 4 months old after falling into a coma when he was found "wedged between the wall and the bed." His death caused Womack to delve deeper into drug addiction. Bobby Truth got involved with gangs and was sent to a youth detention center at about 11 or 12 years old.
Womack fathered two sons, Cory and Jordan, from his relationship with Jody Laba.
Family
In 1974, Bobby's brother Harry Womack
Harris "Harry" Womack (June 25, 1945 – March 9, 1974) was an American singer and musician, most notable for his tenure as a member of the family R&B quintet The Valentinos.
Biography
Early life
Harris "Harry" Womack grew up the fourth of five ...
was fatally stabbed in the neck with a steak knife, by his girlfriend Patricia Wilson, in a jealous rage. She had found another woman's clothes in a room he was occupying at Bobby's house. It turned out that the clothes actually belonged to Bobby's girlfriend. After his death, Bobby established the 'Harry James Womack Memorial Scholarship Fund' in his memory. The $50,000 scholarship fund was to aid minority students complete college, because Harry had always "wished he had gone on and gotten a degree."
Bobby's former stepdaughter, Linda Cooke, co-wrote his 1972 hit song "Woman's Gotta Have It
''Woman's Gotta Have It'' is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.
Recording and release
The song ''My Dancing Days Are Done'' is performed in French (''mes jours de bal perdus'') by the guest singers Parsley and Sasha Andres. The ...
." They collaborated in the late 1970s for her planned debut album. She married Bobby's younger brother Cecil Womack, and the duo teamed up as Womack & Womack. The song "Baby I'm Scared of You" by Womack & Womack, from their album '' Love Wars'', was released as a single in 1983.
Drug addiction and health issues
Womack opened up about his frequent drug use in his memoir, ''Midnight Mover''. Womack said he began using cocaine sometime in the late 1960s. He had become close friends with Sly Stone, and was an enthusiastic participant in Stone's infamous drug binges. Womack told '' Rolling Stone'' in 1984: "I was really off into the drugs. Blowing as much coke as I could blow. And drinking. And smoking weed and taking pills. Doing that all day, staying up seven, eight days. Me and Sly tonewere running partners."
In 1974, Womack experienced "temporary blindness" after he suffered a concussion from a blow to his head when he flipped backwards over an amplifier during a recording session.
His cocaine use turned into an addiction by the late 1970s. Womack partially attributed his drug addiction to his infant son Truth's death in 1978, which he said changed him forever. Throughout most of the 1980s, Womack struggled with a worsening addiction. During this period his career slowed down significantly, partly as a result of his drug usage. In 1985, after completing 14 one-nighters, Womack was hospitalized after experiencing a blood circulation problem in his left leg. Towards the end of the 1980s, he went into a rehabilitation center to get over his cocaine addiction, which he said he conquered.
Womack survived prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...
. A series of health problems would follow, including diabetes, pneumonia, colon cancer and the early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Womack developed diabetes in his later years. It was revealed in March 2012 that Womack was diagnosed with colon cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel mo ...
after Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American bass guitarist and singer.
Rising to prominence with James Brown in the early 1970s, and later with Parliament-Funkadelic, Collins established himself as one of the leading n ...
reported it on his Facebook page. Womack announced afterwards that he was to undergo cancer surgery. On May 24, 2012, it was announced that Womack's surgery to remove a tumor from his colon was successful and he was declared cancer free. On January 1, 2013, Womack admitted that he struggled to remember his songs and other people's names, and later he was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
.
Death
Womack died at his home in Tarzana, California at the age of 70 on June 27, 2014. He was cremated, and his ashes were inurned at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...
, in The Great Mausoleum, Memorial Terrace, Memorial Terrace Columbarium.
Awards and nominations
In 2009, Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
. However, his original vocal group, his brothers, The Valentinos (Friendly Womack, Jr., Curtis Womack, Harry Womack and Cecil Womack), were not inducted with him.
In 2011, Womack received his first Grammy nomination for Best Short-Form Music Video for "Stylo" shared with Mos Def & Gorillaz
Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, ...
.
Discography
*''Fly Me to the Moon
"Fly Me to the Moon", originally titled "In Other Words", is a song written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The first recording of the song was made in 1954 by Kaye Ballard. Frank Sinatra's 1964 version was closely associated with the Apollo missions ...
'' (1969)
*''My Prescription
''My Prescription'' is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bobby Womack. The album was released in February 1970, by Minit Records
Minit Records was an American independent record label, originally based in New Orleans and foun ...
'' (1970)
*'' Communication'' (1971)
*'' Understanding'' (1972)
*'' Facts of Life'' (1973)
*''Lookin' for a Love Again
''Lookin' for a Love Again'' is the sixth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released on January 11, 1974, by United Artists Records. The album reached #85 on the '' Billboard'' U.S. Pop Charts and #5 on the Billboard ...
'' (1974)
*''I Don't Know What the World Is Coming To
''I Don't Know What the World Is Coming To'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Bobby Womack. The album was released on March 28, 1975, by United Artists Records. The album debuted at number 126 on the ''Billboard'' 200.
...
'' (1975)
*'' Safety Zone'' (1975)
*'' BW Goes C&W'' (1976)
*'' Home Is Where the Heart Is'' (1976)
*''Pieces
Piece or Pieces (not to be confused with peace) may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
* Piece (chess), pieces deployed on a chessboard for playing the game of chess
* ''Pieces'' (video game), a 1994 puzzle game for the Super NES
* P ...
'' (1978)
*''Roads of Life
''Roads of Life'' is the twelfth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released in 1979, by Arista Records. It was dedicated to his late son Truth Womack (January 27, 1978 – June 2, 1978). The album was Bobby Womack's o ...
'' (1979)
*'' The Poet'' (1981)
*''The Poet II
''The Poet II '' is the fourteenth studio album by American musician Bobby Womack. The album was released in 1984, by Beverly Glen Music. The album features three duets with fellow soul legend Patti LaBelle, including the top three R&B charted b ...
'' (1984)
*'' So Many Rivers'' (1985)
*'' Someday We'll All Be Free'' (1985)
*''Womagic
''Womagic'' is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bobby Womack. The album was released in 1986, by MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Grou ...
'' (1986)
*''The Last Soul Man
''The Last Soul Man'' is a studio album by the American musician Bobby Womack, released in 1987 on MCA Records. "Living in a Box" is a cover of the Living in a Box song.
Critical reception
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' called "I Still Love You" " ...
'' (1987)
*'' Save the Children'' (1989)
*'' Resurrection'' (1994)
*''Back to My Roots
"Back to My Roots" is a song by American dance music singer and drag queen RuPaul, released as the fourth single from his album ''Supermodel of the World'', released on April 27, 1993. Although the single failed to chart on the ''Billboard'' Ho ...
'' (1999)
*''Traditions
A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
'' (1999)
*'' The Bravest Man in the Universe'' (2012)
References
External links
*
*
*
Bobby Womack interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 1994 (republished June 2008)
Bobby Womack Interview 2011
Wax Poetics Interview
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Womack, Bobby
1944 births
2014 deaths
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American male singers
20th-century American singers
African-American guitarists
African-American male singers
African-American record producers
African-American songwriters
American acoustic guitarists
American baritones
American funk guitarists
American funk singers
American male guitarists
American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
American soul guitarists
American soul singers
Arista Records artists
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Capitol Records artists
Columbia Records artists
Guitarists from Ohio
Jay Boy artists
MCA Records artists
Minit Records artists
Singers from Cleveland
People with Alzheimer's disease
Record producers from Ohio
Rhythm guitarists
Singer-songwriters from Ohio
SOLAR Records artists
The Valentinos members
United Artists Records artists