Percy Sledge dies at 73

The rich soulful voice sung a number of class songs including “When a Man Loves a Woman”, “Take Time to Know Her” and “it Tears ME Up”

The R&B singer Percy Sledge who is mostly remembered for the song “When a Man Loves a Woman” died at the age of 73.

According to a CNN report, Sledge died on Tuesday morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was battling through liver cancer and underwent a surgery back in 2014.

Percy Sledge, also known as the King of Slow Soul, took a little time in turning himself from a hospital orderly to the cornerstone of soul music. His biggest hit “When a Man Loves a Woman” which was recorded in 1966 topped the singles charts for several weeks and millions of its copies were sold worldwide. The song became the first gold record released by the Atlantic Records. Percy was so generous that he gave the writing credits of the song to Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, two member of a band from which he picked up few chords but the majority of the song was written by Percy himself.

Percy regretted the decision decades later and admitted that it was the worst decision ever made by him. It could provide financial support to his family if he had the royalty of the song.

“Worst decision I ever made. But I am not at all bitter. I figure if God wanted me to do what I did and say what I did to tell those guys they could have the song, then I will leave it that way,” he told to a magazine.

The title of a 1994 film starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan was also named after this song. The song was followed by a string of hits including “Take Time to Know Her”, “Warm and Tender Love” and “It Tears Me Up”.

Despite having so many other hit songs, Percy always had a special likeliness for “When a Man Loves a Woman”. “The granddaddy to all of my songs. The boss of all of my songs. I have great respect for that song,” he once said.

Percy was honored with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.