RIP Percy Sledge

[Hardbopjazz]

Percy Sledge, who sang 'When A Man Loves a Woman,' dies

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Percy Sledge, who recorded the classic 1966 soul ballad "When a Man Loves a Woman," has died. He was 74.

East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Coroner Dr. William "Beau" Clark confirmed to The Associated Press that Sledge died early Tuesday morning.

Sledge's first recording took him from hospital orderly to a long touring career averaging 100 performances a year and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Between 1966 and 1968, Sledge used his forlorn, crying vocal style to record a series of Southern soul standards.

In later years, Sledge continued to be an in-demand performer in the United States and Europe as "When a Man Loves a Woman" kept popping up in movies, including "The Big Chill" and "The Crying Game."

[paul secor]

Sad news. He was one of my favorite soul singers - perhaps my favorite. I'm glad that I got to see and hear him perform live.

Thank you, Mr. Sledge.

My favorite (somewhat obscure) Percy Sledge recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jRMsA5clU

[soulpope]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgYe6xtNj0o

He really came "Out of Left Field" - a great singer being responsible for the rise of the legendary Quinvy Broadway Studio - thank you Percy for the music and RIP

Edited April 15, 2015 by soulpope

[John L]

A great great singer. RIP

[paul secor]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/15/arts/music/percy-sledge-who-sang-when-a-man-loves-a-woman-dies-at-74.html?&assetType=nyt_now

[JSngry]

Put me down for "Take Time To Know Her".

Talk about a time long gone...

[soulpope]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHN8wCFS4Bg

Percy Sledge "Stop The World Tonight" (Atlantic 45-2826)

He was undisputedly the master of plaintive Country Soul .....

Edited April 15, 2015 by soulpope

[jazzbo]

It's so funny, when we lived in Swaziland where my Dad was to be the first Peace Corps program Director, when we would meet some Swazis and say we were American they would say "Oh, you are from the country where Percy Sledge lives!" My Dad had no idea who Percy Sledge was, I knew little more than the name. It turns out that Sledge had done a tour of southern Africa and had played in the Somhlolo Stadium (built for the nation's independce celebrations which we all attended) as one of the first stars to perform and was a big hit and a big name in Swaziland.

RIP Percy. I know they miss you there still.

Edited April 16, 2015 by jazzbo