What Did Bobby Womack Die From?
How soul legend Bobby Womack died, the health conditions he faced, his remarkable career, and his long, public struggle with addiction.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
Bobby Womack, the legendary soul and gospel singer, died on 27 June 2014 at the age of 70. He was found dead at his home in California. Reports at the time indicated the coroner did not immediately determine a single definitive cause of death, but Womack had been living with several serious health conditions in his later years, including Alzheimer’s disease, and he had previously battled colon cancer, pneumonia, and diabetes. His death marked the end of a career that stretched from gospel with the Valentinos and his connection to Sam Cooke, through rock and roll and soul stardom, to a late-career revival with the album “The Bravest Man in the Universe.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
How Bobby Womack died
Bobby Womack died on 27 June 2014, at the age of 70. He was found dead at his home in California. According to reports at the time, the coroner did not immediately announce a single definitive cause of death. What was clear was that Womack had faced a series of serious health problems in his final years, and his death came after a long period of declining health.
The health conditions he faced
In his later life, Bobby Womack lived with several significant illnesses. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which had affected his memory and health in his final years. Earlier, he had been treated for colon cancer, which was reported to be in remission, and he had also dealt with pneumonia and diabetes. This combination of conditions formed the backdrop to his death, even where a single cause was not publicly specified.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of death | 27 June 2014 |
| Age | 70 |
| Where | His home in California |
| Health conditions | Alzheimer’s disease; past colon cancer, pneumonia, diabetes |
| Cause | No single definitive cause immediately announced |
A remarkable career
Bobby Womack’s death drew tributes because of an extraordinary career in music. He began in gospel with his family group, later known as the Valentinos, and was closely connected to soul pioneer Sam Cooke. Over the decades he became a celebrated soul singer and songwriter, wrote hits, and influenced generations of artists. Publications like Rolling Stone chronicled his life, and in 2009 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Late in life he found new acclaim with the album “The Bravest Man in the Universe.”
His struggle with addiction
Part of Bobby Womack’s story, which he spoke about openly, was a long battle with drug addiction, particularly cocaine, across parts of his career. His experience reflected how addiction can shadow even the most talented and successful people, and how it damages health over time. While his later illnesses were the immediate context of his death, his openness about years of substance use added to his legacy as an artist who lived, and spoke, honestly.
His legacy
Bobby Womack is remembered as one of soul music’s great voices and songwriters, an artist whose career spanned gospel, rock and roll, and soul over more than fifty years. His death in 2014 closed a remarkable life, and his honesty about his struggles, alongside his music, remains part of why he is so fondly remembered.
The bottom line
Bobby Womack died on 27 June 2014 at age 70, at his home, after living with Alzheimer’s disease and a history of colon cancer, pneumonia, and diabetes, with no single definitive cause immediately announced. A gospel, rock and roll, and soul legend connected to Sam Cooke and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he was also candid about a long struggle with addiction.
Reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist.
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