Singer and songwriter Bobby Caldwell, the person behind the 1978 platinum hit “What You Will not Do For Love,” has died at age 71, his spouse Mary confirmed to CBS Information on Wednesday.
She introduced her husband’s passing in a tweet from his official Twitter account, writing, “Bobby handed away right here at residence. I held him tight in my arms as he left us.”
I’m endlessly heartbroken,” she continued. “Because of all of you in your many prayers through the years. He had been “FLOXED,” it took his well being during the last 6 years and a pair of months. Relaxation with God, my Love.”
“Floxed” is a time period that refers back to the toxicity attributable to continued use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which might result in “disabling and probably everlasting negative effects involving tendons, muscle tissues, joints, nerves and the central nervous system,” in response to the Meals and Drug Administration.
It was not instantly clear which antibiotics Mary was referring to, and he or she didn’t supply additional particulars associated to Caldwell’s well being.
Caldwell grew up in a musical residence the place his dad and mom hosted the musical selection present “Suppertime,” and he started making music as a teen, closely influenced by present tunes and artists corresponding to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and The Beatles, in response to his web site.
Michael Ochs Archives by way of Getty Photographs
“What You Will not Do for Love,” which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Scorching 100 within the 12 months of its launch. It has been coated by Boys II Males, Natalie Cole and Michael Bolton, amongst others, along with being sampled by legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.
Caldwell’s tune “Subsequent Time I Fall,” which was recorded by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100 in 1986 and was nominated for a Grammy for Greatest Pop Efficiency by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Different of Caldwell’s songs had been sampled by Vanessa Williams, the Infamous B.I.G and Frequent.
Questlove, who collaborated with Frequent on the observe “The Gentle,” which sampled Caldwell’s “Open Your Eyes,” wrote a transferring tribute to Caldwell on Instagram.
“Man such a missed alternative to satisfy a legend.” he wrote. “Thanks in your voice and reward.”
Mixed, Caldwell’s songs have contributed to greater than 40 million file gross sales, in response to his web site.