Death of the Poet

Soul Legend Bobby Womack Dies at 70

I was shocked and stunned to hear about the death of Bobby Womack this morning. I knew he had had health problems in recent years, but I thought that he had recovered.

The mainstream press will tell you that he wrote It's All Over Now, which was a huge early hit for the Rolling Stones and that he played with Sam Cooke. But that is only a very small part of the story.

Bobby Womack, The Poet

For me, Bobby Womack epitomised soul music, with his deep brown soulful voice, fantastic songs and sweet guitar sound.

Bobby's career spanned seven decades. Beginning in a gospel quintet with his brothers, when he was only nine years old. The Womack Brothers supported Sam Cooke and numerous other leading gospel acts of the day. But it was the association with Cooke which prompted their cross over to RnB. Cooke signed them to his own label and changed their name to The Valentinos. When their father found out that they were going to sing secular music, he kicked them out of his house.

The Valentinos had an RnB chart hit with Lookin' for Love, in 1962, which Bobby re-recorded and turned into a pop chart hit in 1974. The Lookin' for a Love Again album, on which it was included, also contained the hit You're Welcome, Stop on By - later covered and made a hit, all over again, by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.

Things took off for Bobby in 1964, he joined Sam Cooke's backing band as a guitarist and wrote It's All Over Now, a single for The Valentinos, but a much bigger hit for the Rolling Stones, in fact it was their first UK number one. Incidentally Rod Stewart also recorded a great country style version on his 1970 album Gasoline Alley

Bobby played guitar and wrote for some amazing artists. But he probably first really appeared on my radar in the 80's. His lead vocal on on Jazz Crusader Wilton Felder's 1980 solo album, Inherit the Wind brought him back on many people's radar, having spent some years in the wilderness, dealing with personal and addiction issues. There will surely, one day, be a film made about the Womack family, their story has more drama, marriage, death and divorce than any daytime soap opera.

Inherit the Wind was followed by, arguably, two of Bobby's best albums, The Poet and The Poet II. The latter featured Pattti Labelle on three tracks. Her parts were taken by Alltrinna Grayson in Bobby's UK shows in the 80's, but Alltrinna's defining moments were her duets with Bobby on No Matter How High I Get.

A moment I will never forget was Womack's show at London's Hammersmith Odeon, as it was in those days. My seat was in the centre of the theatre, just over half way back from the stage. While the house lights were up I couldn't understand why everyone in the audience appeared to be looking in my direction. After a few moments, I realised that Stevie Wonder was sitting a couple of rows behind me. Bobby, of course, talked him into joining him on stage for a couple of songs. 

Bobby Womack and Stevie Wonder

RIP Bobby Womack, the world is a poorer place without you, but thanks for the wealth of music that you left us.