Singer and songwriter Bobby Caldwell, who was famous for the double-platinum hit ‘What You Won’t Do For Love’ and ‘Open Your Eyes,’ has died at the age of 71.
The American singer had been battling an illness for many years before he passed away.
Caldwell died in his sleep on Tuesday night, March 14, while at his residence in New Jersey, his representative and wife confirmed on Wednesday morning.
His wife since 2004, Mary Caldwell, broke the news on Bobby’s Twitter page as she thanked fans for their prayers. ‘Bobby passed away here at home,’ said Mary on Twitter.
‘I held him tight in my arms as he left us. I am forever heartbroken.’
Mary also said, ‘Thanks to all of you for your many prayers over the years. He had been ‘FLOXED,’ it took his health over the last 6 years and 2 months. Rest with God, my Love.’
Caldwell was born in New York in 1951 and was raised in Miami.
According to his website, he grew up listening to famed musicians including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles.
He began his career playing rhythm guitar for Little Richard before launching his solo career in the late 1970s.
TMZ claimed that the singer had ‘not been able to walk for about five years as he coped with painful bouts of neuropathy and a ruptured tendon in his ankle.’
Last year, his team revealed that Bobby had a bad reaction to a prescribed antibiotic in 2017 which reportedly caused his Achilles tendon to rupture and eventually led to neuropathy.
The New York native, whose full name was Robert Hunter Caldwell, started singing in the 1960s as a teen. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz and adult contemporary.’
In Japan and throughout Asia, he enjoys a feverish popularity, selling out shows and achieving gold and platinum status for his releases in those countries.
Caldwell’s signature voice transcended genres of jazz, R&B, and rock as his soulful hit song ‘What You Won’t Do For Love’ ascended the Billboard 100 charts after its 1978 release on the debut album of the same name.
