b. 4 March 1944, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. A founder member of the Valentinos, this accomplished musician also worked as a guitarist in Sam Cooke’s touring band. He scandalized the music fraternity by marrying Barbara Campbell, Cooke’s widow, barely three months after the ill-fated singer’s death. Womack’s early solo singles, ‘Nothing You Can Do’ and the superb ‘I Found A True Love’, were all but shunned and, with the Valentinos now in disarray, he reverted to session work. Womack became a fixture at Chips Moman’s American Recording Studio, but although he appeared on many recordings, this period is best recalled for his work with Wilson Pickett. ‘I’m In Love’ and ‘I’m A Midnight Mover’ are two of the 17 Womack songs that particular artist would record. Bobby meanwhile resurrected his solo career with singles on Keymen and Atlantic Records. Signing with Minit Records, he began a string of R&B hits, including ‘It’s Gonna Rain’, ‘How I Miss You Baby’ (both 1969) and ‘More Than I Can Stand (1970).
His authoritative early album, The Womack Live, then introduced the freer, more personal direction he would undertake in the 70s. The final catalyst for change was There’s A Riot Going On, Sly And The Family Stone’s 1971 collection on which Womack played guitar. Its influence was most clearly heard on ‘Communication’, the title track to Womack’s first album for United Artists Records. Part of a prolific period, the follow-up album, Understanding, was equally strong, and both yielded impressive singles, which achieved high positions in the R&B charts. ‘That’s The Way I Feel About Cha’ (number 2), ‘Woman’s Gotta Have It’ (number 1) and ‘Harry Hippie’ (number 8), which confirmed his new-found status. Successive albums from Facts Of Life, Looking For A Love Again and I Don’t Know What The World Is Coming To, consolidated the accustomed mixture of original songs, slow raps and cover versions. BW Goes C&W (1976), a self-explanatory experiment, closed his United Artists contract, but subsequent work for CBS Records and Arista Records was undistinguished. In 1981 Womack signed with Beverly Glen, a small Los Angeles independent, where he recorded The Poet. This powerful set re-established his career while a single, ‘If You Think You’re Lonely Now’, reached number 3 on the R&B chart. The Poet II (1984) featured three duets with Patti LaBelle, one of which, ‘Love Has Finally Come At Last’, was another hit single. Womack moved to MCA Records in 1985, debuting with So Many Rivers. A long-standing friendship with the Rolling Stones was emphasized that year when he sang back-up on their version of ‘Harlem Shuffle’. Womack remained fairly quiet during the 90s, although he returned to the recording studio in 1999 with his first ever gospel set, Back To My Roots. An expressive, emotional singer, his best work stands among black music’s finest moments.
