Bobby Womack (March 4, 1944 - June 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer whose career connected gospel, soul, rhythm and blues, funk, blues, and rock. His raspy, emotionally exposed voice made him a distinctive recording artist, while his songwriting and guitar work established him as one of the most versatile figures in twentieth-century popular music.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack began performing as a child with his brothers in a gospel group led by their father. The group later became the Valentinos after entering the secular music business under the guidance of Sam Cooke. The Valentinos recorded "Lookin' for a Love," a song that became one of their signature numbers and was later revived as a major solo hit by Womack. Their 1964 recording "It's All Over Now" was also written by Womack and became the Rolling Stones' first number-one single in the United Kingdom.
Cooke's influence remained central to Womack's development. After Cooke's death, Womack worked as a guitarist and songwriter, building a reputation in Memphis and Los Angeles. He contributed to recordings by artists including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Joe Tex, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, Janis Joplin, and Sly and the Family Stone. His playing was often understated but highly expressive, using compact melodic phrases and a strong sense of rhythmic placement. As a songwriter, he supplied material for performers such as Pickett and wrote "Trust Me" for Joplin's album "Pearl." He also co-wrote the instrumental "Breezin'," later popularized by George Benson.
Womack launched his solo recording career with "Fly Me to the Moon" in 1968. His version of "California Dreamin'" became an early commercial success, but his most important work emerged in the early 1970s. The albums "Communication," "Understanding," and "Facts of Life" combined romantic confession, social observation, gospel feeling, and sophisticated studio arrangements. "That's the Way I Feel About Cha," "Woman's Gotta Have It," and "Harry Hippie" became major R&B recordings, with "Woman's Gotta Have It" giving Womack his first number-one R&B single as a performer.
In 1972, Womack wrote and recorded the soundtrack for the crime film "Across 110th Street." Its title song, driven by a tense rhythm and vivid urban atmosphere, became one of his defining compositions and was later reintroduced to a wider audience through its use in film and television. The period also produced "Lookin' for a Love Again," featuring his celebrated recording of "Lookin' for a Love."
During the 1980s, Womack continued to record successfully, notably with "If You Think You're Lonely Now" and "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much." His work retained a direct, conversational quality even as production styles changed. After a quieter period, he gained renewed attention through collaborations with Damon Albarn and Gorillaz, appearing on "Plastic Beach" and releasing "The Bravest Man in the Universe" in 2012.
Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. His legacy rests not only on his own records, but also on the breadth of his contributions as a writer, guitarist, producer, and interpreter of emotionally candid soul music.