Bobby Womack

Although he continued to record with his brothers throughout the 1960s, Womack began playing guitar in Sam Cooke's band until Cooke's untimely death in 1964. Without the stewardship of Cooke, however, "The Valentinos" floundered and split up, subsequently beginning Bobby Womack's solo career.

Although he had mediocre commercial success as a recording artist throughout the 1960s, he had considerable success as a composer and arranger for R&B/Pop artists such as Wilson Pickett, Joe Tex and Dusty Springfield.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Bobby Womack was born into a musical family. Managed by their father, he and his brothers formed "The Womack Brothers", a gospel singing group that toured with several national gospel stars. "The Womack Brothers" caught the attention of the legendary Sam Cooke when Cooke was singing on the gospel circuit. When Cooke formed his own record label, Sar Records, he immediately signed Bobby and his brothers. In 1962, they were renamed "The Valentinos" and had their first R&B hit single "Lookin' For A Love".

His wife, Barbara, was the widow of the singer/producer Sam Cooke (murdered December 11, 1964). Sam and Barbara Cooke's daughter, Linda M. Womack, married Cecil D. Womack, Bobby's brother. So Bobby became his brother's stepfather-in-law and the brother-in-law of his stepdaughter Linda Cooke Womack; the songwriting team known as "Womack & Womack" is comprised of husband-and-wife Cecil D. Womack and Linda M. Womack.

His first child, son Vincent D. Womack with his then-wife Barbara Campbell-Cooke (Sam Cooke's widow) was born on October 1, 1966 in Los Angeles. He was named after Sam's and Barbara's son who accidentally drowned in a swimming pool at 18 months in 1963. Vincent committed suicide in 1988 at age 21 in front of his mother Barbara in her living room because he was despondent that his girlfriend had left him.

He would eventually recorded a string of hits of his own from 1971 through 1976. Among them were "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", "Woman's Gotta Have It" and a newly arranged version of "Lookin' For A Love". His career slumped during the Disco era as his earthy and soulful vocals were suddenly out of vogue.

Nevertheless, he returned triumphant in the early 1980s with the recording of the album entitled "The Poet" on which he delivered what has become his signature composition and recording "If You Think You're Lonely Now".

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.