If a group of peaceful Aliens came to visit earth and said to me “What is the definition of this ‘Soul Music’ you people listen to?” – my answer would be “Bobby Womack”
His gravelly tones, gospel-like wails and deeply powerful harmonies are the epitome of what soul music really is all about.
Rhythm & Blues (Womack was an accomplished guitarist) is probably even more apt for Womack but throughout his career, he seems to have stood out as a real proponent of music from the soul, that touches the soul and is profoundly soulful. I’m yet to meet anyone who likes soul music who denies Womack as the real deal.
And those pop-trivia lovers amongst us may also know of his songwriting prowess and that none other than the supergroup that is the Rolling Stones first Number 1 in the UK, was their cover of a Womack-penned song “It’s All Over Now”.
And those obscure connection fans will also know that Bobby Womack was SIMULTANEOUSLY his own brother’s step-father in law. Bobby Womack married Sam Cooke’s widow (Barbara) and Sam Cooke’s daughter Linda married Bobby’s brother Cecil (who later formed Womack & Womack and recorded a massive global hit in “Footsteps”). Confused? Sounds like a soap opera but it was real life.
In fact Bobby’s love life (and bearing in mind so many of his songs were all about the trials and tribulations of love) was a complex and controversial one. When he married Sam Cooke’s widow, he was assaulted by Cooke’s brothers and ostracised by his own brothers as it was very soon after Sam’s tragic death. He also married, divorced and remarried his third wife Regina Banks. In between Barbara and Regina, he was briefly married to his PA Evelyn.
He also tragically lost a son to suicide aged 21, lost another son who was only aged 4 months old in a cot-death scenario, and another son was sent to a juvenile correction facility for gang-related offences only aged 11/12.
Bobby certainly had angst and tribulations to frame his songwriting and whilst some of his songs are a tad on the melancholy side, that’s what makes them real, earthy and so soulful.
Bobby was born into an impoverished family in Cleveland and a devout Baptist upbringing. He showed a flair for the guitar and being a left-hander, turned the device upside down so he could hit the chords. His father described Bobby as a genius on the guitar and is undoubtedly his licks on it’s All Over Now that endured Jagger and Richards to cover the song and score their first number one.
His brothers – there were five boys – formed into a group to record in the 1950s as The Womack Brothers. Indeed it was Sam Cooke who spotted them performing and mentored them. Eventually signing them to his own label and suggesting a name change to The Valentinos. They relocated to LA, supported James Brown on tour and started to rack up hits (including Its All Over Now)..
Sadly, after Sam Cooke tragic shooting, the record label folded and the controversy over Bobby’s marriage to Sam’s widow Barbara meant the Valentinos disbanded. Bobby tried a solo career, but DJs loyal to Sam Cooke’s music wouldn’t entertain his recordings. So he stuck to session recordings and toured with Ray Charles’ band.
Obscurity beckoned but the growing Memphis Soul scene gave Womack a new lease of life. The more gritty sounds of the Muscle Shoals studio suited Womack’s R&B style and his gritty vocalising. Some may not know this but Womack’s guitar is heard on Aretha’s Lady Soul album (but sadly for him not on the biggest hit “Chain of Fools”).
Wilson Pickett (another soul legend) saw Bobby’s songwriting prowess and had him pen “I’m A Midnight Mover” which was a big hit for the man behind “In The Midnight Hour”.
In 1968, Bobby got a break as a solo singer and it started a chain reaction of positive reactions to his material and the newly-formed Blaxploitation mode (think Shaft, Superfly, Jackie Brown) took to Womack with “Across 110th Street” “Harry Hippie” “I Can Understand it” and “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out”. Womack’s neo-Blues found favour in this era of socio-conscious recording despite not being of the more funky nature of Curtis Mayfield or orchestrated like Isaac Hayes and Barry White’s Love Unlimited ensemble.
It was the late 1970s and early 1980’s that I became a Womack fan. Albums FULL of deeply soulful tracks, and collaborations with saxophonist Wilton Felder, Beverly Glen Records’ James Gadson, Otis Smith, Michael J Powell, Michael Wycoff and Patrick Moten (think Anita Baker hit factory from the 1980s) and took Womack’s music to a sophisticated, synthesised but still truly soulful place.
If You Think You’re Lonely Now, Tell Me Why, Love Have Finally Come At Last and I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much gave Womack a true standing as a soul great.
His hit-making continued with (bizarre link to a pseudo-soul outfit from the UK, Living In A Box with the song Living In A Box) and various ventures, tours and collaborations. The 1990s and early 2000s were a bit barren for Bobby.
Then in 2009, the album The Bravest Man In The Universe hit critical acclaim. Produced by Blur’s Damon Albarn and rave aficionado Richard Russell put Bobby back on the map. A little like Terry Callier’s rediscovery some years before via DJ Gilles Peterson.
Bobby’s last tour and concert was in June 2014 and within 2 weeks, he passed away, peacefully.
No doubting that Bobby’s life was a troubled one – with tragedies and controversy. And there’s no doubting he was a genius with his guitar work, his songwriting and his vocal style.
What there IS no doubt about, is that he did epitomise soul music. Every chord, verse and strained but perfect, vocal. I’m forever taken by his music. Deeply feel his pain and perspective. And deeply appreciate his craft and his realness.
I’ll leave you with a 1979 slab of a sophisticated, passionate, powerplay of a song.
How Could You Break My Heart
I mean how could you? RIP Bobby
Perry Timms
3 October 2022.
Perry is the Founder and Chief Energy Officer of People and Transformational HR Ltd (PTHR) and is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, a fellow of the RSA and Visiting Professor at 4x Business Schools in the UK. Perry is a 3x published author; a 2x TEDx Speaker and 5x Member of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers List ranking Number 1 in 2022.
Perry’s musical heritage is in music of black origin and particularly 1960s American R&B and British Soul & Funk from the 1980s-date.