A singer and composer whose voice and musical style have been adored by generations of his fellow artists, Bobby Caldwell, died Wednesday at the age of 89.
According to The Associated Press, Mary Caldwell told them he died on Tuesday after a long illness at their home in Great Meadows, New Jersey. The 71-year-old died.
In what was then referred to as the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart, "What You Won't Do for Love" went to No. 9. Caldwell wrote and sang the song, which became a long-term standard.
Among the artists who covered the song are Boyz II Men & Michael Bolton as well as Tupac Shakur who sampled on his posthumously released song Do For Love.
There have been many hip-hop artists who have sampled Caldwell songs, among them The Notorious B.I.G., Common, Lil Nas X, and Chance the Rapper.
There are numerous accounts of listeners being shocked to hear that Caldwell was white and not African, many of which were shared on social media after his passing.
On his debut solo album of the same name, which contains "What You Won't Do for Love," Caldwell only made a silhouette appearance.
Questlove wrote on Instagram Caldwell was the last chapter generation where record executives sought hide faces album covers maybe maybe their musician could have chance.