Current:Home > ScamsBobby Caldwell, singer of 'What You Won't Do for Love,' dies at 71 -Horizon Finance School
Bobby Caldwell, singer of 'What You Won't Do for Love,' dies at 71
View
Date:2025-04-27 13:09:10
Bobby Caldwell, a soulful R&B singer and songwriter who had a major hit in 1978 with "What You Won't Do for Love" and a voice and musical style adored by generations of his fellow artists, has died, his wife said Wednesday.
Mary Caldwell told The Associated Press that he died in her arms at their home in Great Meadows, New Jersey, on Tuesday, after a long illness. He was 71.
The smooth soul jam "What You Won't Do for Love" went to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on what was then called the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart. It became a long-term standard and career-defining hit for Caldwell, who also wrote the song.
The song was covered by artists, including Boyz II Men and Michael Bolton, and was sampled by Tupac Shakur on his posthumously released song "Do For Love."
Other Caldwell songs were sampled by hip-hop artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Common, Lil Nas X and Chance the Rapper.
Stories abound, many of them shared on social media after his death, of listeners being surprised to learn that Caldwell was white and not Black.
Caldwell appeared only in silhouette on the self-titled debut solo album on which "What You Won't Do for Love" appears.
"Caldwell was the closing chapter in a generation in which record execs wanted to hide faces on album covers so perhaps maybe their artist could have a chance," Questlove said on Instagram.
"Thank you for your voice and gift #BobbyCaldwell," Questlove wrote.
Chance the Rapper shared a screenshot on Instagram of a direct message exchange he had with Caldwell last year when he asked to use his music.
"I'll be honored if you sample my song," Caldwell wrote.
"You are such an inspiration to me and many others," Chance told him. He said in the post that he had never been thanked for sampling a song before and has "not felt broken like this at a stranger's passing in so long."
Born in New York and raised in Miami, Caldwell was the son of singers who hosted a musical variety TV show called "Suppertime." A multi-instrumentalist, he began performing professionally at 17, and got his break playing guitar in Little Richard's band in the early 1970s. In the mid '70s, Caldwell played in various bar bands in Los Angeles before landing a solo record deal.
Caldwell would never have a hit that came close in prominence to "What You Won't Do for Love," but he released several respected albums, including 1980s "Cat in The Hat" — on which he appeared prominently on the cover wearing a fedora — and 1982's "Carry On," on which he was his own producer and played all the instruments.
His song "Open Your Eyes" from "Cat in The Hat" was covered by John Legend and sampled by Common on his Grammy-nominated 2000 single "The Light."
In the 1990s, Caldwell shifted to recording and performing American standards, including songs made popular by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, he loved in his youth.
In addition to Mary, his wife of 19 years, Caldwell is survived by daughters Lauren and Tessa and stepdaughter Katie.
veryGood! (8481)
Related
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Ex-North Dakota lawmaker charged with traveling to Czech Republic for sex with minor
- Golden Bachelor’s Sandra Mason Reacts to Criticism Over Missing Daughter’s Wedding for the Show
- EU Commissioner urges Montenegro to push ahead with EU integration after new government confirmed
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Travis Barker Reveals Name of His and Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian's Baby Boy
- Tropical Storm Pilar heads toward El Salvador and is expected to bring heavy rain to Central America
- Savings accounts now pay serious interest, but most of us aren't claiming it, survey finds
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Española man receives 35-year sentence for 5-year-old stepdaughter’s beating death
Ranking
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Gwyneth Paltrow reflects on the magical summer she spent with Matthew Perry in touching tribute
- NY man arrested after allegedly pointing gun at head of 6-year-old dropping off candy
- Phoebe Philo, former creative director of Chloé and Celine, launches debut collection
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Deaf family grieves father of 4 and beloved community leader who was killed in Maine shootings
- 'Never saw the stop sign': Diamondbacks rue momentum-killing gaffe in World Series Game 3
- Why guilty pleas in Georgia 2020 election interference case pose significant risk to Donald Trump
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Judges say Georgia’s child welfare leader asked them to illegally detain children in juvenile jails
Scream time: Has your kid been frightened by a horror movie trailer?
Deaf family grieves father of 4 and beloved community leader who was killed in Maine shootings
New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
3 Social Security surprises that could cost you in retirement
Dabo Swinney goes on rant in response to caller on Clemson football radio show
Australia says it won’t bid for the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia likely to host