Soul singer Bobby Womack dies

LEGENDARY soul singer Bobby Womack who worked with The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and Lana Del Rey, has died aged 70.

FILE - JUNE 27: Soul singer Bobby Womack died on June 27, 2014. He was suffering from colon cancer and diabetes at the time of his death. He was 70 years old. UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Bobby WOMACK; Posed portrait of Bobby Womack (Photo by Echoes/Redferns)

Bobby Womack, a colorful and highly influential R&B singer-songwriter who impacted artists from the Rolling Stones to Damon Albarn, had died. He was 70.

Womack’s publicist Sonya Kolowrat confirmed Friday that the singer had died but had no other details to provide.

Womack was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago and dealt with a number of health issues, including prostate cancer. Womack performed recently at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and seemed in good health and spirits.

Womack’s caught the attention of British rockers The Rolling Stones in the 1960s and influenced many early rockers before fading from popular music for more than a decade.

Womack wrote a number of R&B staples including It’s all Over Now - which went to number one for the Stones.

The singer 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.

Albarn and XL Recordings president Richard Russell helped Womack regain his career with 2012 comeback album The Bravest Man in the Universe, which included a vocal contribution from Lana Del Rey.

Soul singer Bobby Womack Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Guinness

Originally published as Soul singer Bobby Womack dies