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Percy Sledge has died of natural causes at his home in Baton Rouge, LA. He was 74.
If you're going "who is that" or "the name rings a bell but I can't quite get it," you may not know who he was, but you know The Song he made - and made him - famous.
“When a Man Loves a Woman” has been called "the definitive soul ballad," "almost unbearably heartfelt," "the ultimate make-out song," and "a holy love hymn."
Sledge started singing at local clubs with a group called the Esquires in 1965. The next year, Atlantic Records released the song that made his career.
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Percy Sledge |
In a fit of generosity which he later called "the worst decision I ever made," he gave the songwriting credit to two of the Esquires, who had helped him with a few chords. As a result, he never saw a dime of songwriting royalties.
"When a Man Loves a Woman" was not his only hit - he charted about five other times - but it was by far his biggest. And even though the song has been covered by others - in fact Michael Bolton took his version to #1 in 1991 - if ever one song and one singer were joined as one thing, this was that thing.
RIP, Percy Sledge.
Sources cited in links:
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article18494591.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8raabzZNqw
http://www.eonline.com/news/646061/soul-singer-percy-sledge-dead-at-age-73
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/14/entertainment/percy-sledge-dies-feat/
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