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Soul singer Bobby Womack dies

Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood was among the first to pay tribute to Womack, tweeting: “The man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing.”

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Photo: Agencies

Legendary US soul artist Bobby Womack, who influenced and wrote for generations of musicians, died on Friday aged 70, a spokeswoman said, triggering a surge of tributes. Womack penned a string of R&B staples including It’s all Over Now — which went to number one for British rockers The Rolling Stones and Lookin’ for A Love.

Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood was among the first to pay tribute to Womack, tweeting: “The man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing.”

“RIP to the ‘Soul Legnd’ who sang from his Soul !!!” added US rapper MC Hammer.

Womack started out performing with his brothers in the 1950s and later a band called the Valentinos. He also wrote songs and played guitar for artists including Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. Womack, who was credited with influencing generations of acts, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

He struggled with health problems for decades, but released a comeback album, The Bravest Man in the Universe, in 2012, his first record in over a decade. His health problems included drug addiction, diabetes, pneumonia, colon cancer and the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, according to media reports.

But he made an appearance on Plastic Beach, a 2010 album by British Blur veteran Damon Albarn’s “virtual band” Gorillaz.

That fuelled his comeback: Albarn co-produced The Bravest Man in the Universe, which was widely critically praised.