Bobby Womack 1944 - 2014

The cause of his death is not yet known, though he had been diagnosed with colon cancer and had a number of over health scares including pneumonia, cancer and, reportedly, the early stages of Alzheimers.

Christened Robert Dwayne Womack, his career was an illustrious one, as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and collaborator. Originally the lead singer in the Womack family group – they subsequently changed their name to The Valentinos – he also worked as a backing singer with Sam Cooke, who was a major influence.

He worked as a session musician with numerous blues and soul legends, including Ray Charles, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and Sly and the Family Stone, before releasing his debut solo album Fly Me To The Moon in 1968 – the first of 28 original albums, many of which were top 100 sellers in the US. The last of those 28 – the yet to be released The Best Is Yet To Come – was his second as part of a hook-up with the hugely successful UK label XL Recordings and is likely to include contributions from Ron Isley, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Snoop Dogg.

His biggest US hit was with 'Lookin for a Love' in 1974 (originally released as a single by The Valentinos in the early '60s), which reached No.10 in the Billboard Hot 100. His influence was wide-ranging. He wrote 'It's All Over Now', with which The Rolling Stones had their first ever UK No.1 hit. Movie fans will also remember the use of his superb 'Across 110th Street' – originally released in 1972 – in the opening sequence of Quentin Tarantino's cult smash hit movie Jackie Brown [embed below is an amzing rare demo version found by Connla Stokes

The singer was open about the damaging effects of his drug use during the 1970s and 80s but he had subsequently successfully gone clean and his career was rejuvenated. His personal life was torrid: he was married twice – to Sam Cooke's widow Barbara and to Regina Banks – and had six children. Both marriages ended in divorce.

He had a number of other hit singles, including 'That's The Way I Feel About Cha', 'Woman's Gotta Have It', 'Harry Hippie' and, in the 1980s 'If You Think You're Lonely Now'. His biggest UK hit was 'I'm Back For More', recorded with Lulu and released in 1993. It reached No.27, giving him his only official Top 30 hit. Womack was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. He was featured on the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach in 2010.

In 2012, Womack released The Bravest Man in the Universe, produced by Damn Albern and Rick Russell of XL Recordings – giving his career a fresh lease of life.

Womack came to Dublin to perform on Arthur's Day 2013 and made a huge impact, playing the intimate confines of the city centre bar Dakota, making it one of the highlights of the event.

Mark Hogan attended the gig for Hot Press. "Irish fans were treated to a gloriously intimate Womack experience," he recalls. "Bobby, who was a true living legend, played to a packed audience in Dakota, Dublin on Arthur’s Day. Those present on the night – including a current Cabinet Minister Leo Varadkar – witnessed classic soul in a perfect club setting, as the full brass section and gospel-style backing vocals reverberated through the South William Street venue.

"Womack effortlessly delivered hit after after hit, while tracks from his more recent opus, The Bravest Man In The Universe, struck a familiar chord among the younger contingent. It really was a fantastic night and a privilege to see such a legend close-up."

Bobby had still been gigging – he played the Bonaroo Music Festival in Manchester just two weeks ago. But his health problems finally caught up with him. May he rest in peace.