Legendary R&B singer-songwriter Bobby Womack, who inspired many artists of the 20th century, has died at the age of 70.
Womack’s publicist said the singer died yesterday but gave no other details.
The singer, who inspired artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to Damon Albarn, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago and battled prostate cancer.
His hits include It’s All Over Now by the Rolling Stones and Lookin’ for Love.
He performed recently at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee and seemed in good health and spirits.
The singer faded from popular music for more than a decade but with the help of Albarn regained his career with 2012 comeback album The Bravest Man In The Universe.
Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, long after he had lost his fortune and his career to drug addiction.
He spoke of kicking his substance abuse problems in a 2012 interview with The Associated Press and all the friends he had lost to drugs over the years.
"I think the biggest move for me was to get away from the drug scene," Womack said.
"It wasn't easy. It was hard because everybody I knew did drugs...They didn't know when to turn it off. So for me looking at Wilson Pickett, close friends of mine, Sly Stone, Jim Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and I can go on and on and on, and I say all of them died because of drugs."
Close friend Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood was among the musicians he influenced to pay tribute this morning.
Wood tweeted: “"I'm so sad to hear about my friend Bobby Womack - the man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing."
He added: "My heart goes out to his family & friends and everyone who loved his music. Bobby you will be greatly missed xx"
Gospel singer Candi Staton knew Womack since they were children and she toured with him.
"He had a style that nobody else could ever capture," she said in a statement. "I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much."
Additional reporting Press Associaiton.
