Bobby Womack Net Worth

What was Bobby Womack's Net Worth?

Bobby Womack was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who had a net worth of $250 thousand at the time of his death. Bobby Womack rose to fame in the early 1960s as the lead singer of his family's R&B group the Valentinos, and later had a prolific career as a solo artist, with 27 studio albums released between 1969 and 2012. Among Womack's biggest hit songs were "Lookin' for a Love," "Woman's Gotta Have It," and "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much." Bobby Womack died on June 27, 2014 at the age of 70.

Early Life

Bobby Womack was born on March 4, 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio as the third of five sons of Naomi and Friendly. His older brothers were Friendly Jr. and Curtis, and his younger brothers were Harry and Cecil. The family was very poor, and Womack was told by his mother that he could "sing his way out of the ghetto." With his four brothers, he often played his father's guitar while his father was at work. Although this was strictly forbidden in the household, Womack's playing so impressed his father that he and all of his siblings were given guitars.

The Valentinos

In the mid-1950s, at the age of ten, Womack began touring with his siblings and parents as the gospel group the Womack Brothers. The group was soon noticed by singer Sam Cooke, who became a loyal mentor. In the early 1960s, he founded SAR Records and signed the Womack Brothers to the label; the group was subsequently renamed the Valentinos and relocated to Los Angeles. Under Cooke, the Valentinos released their first hit single, "Lookin' for a Love," in 1962. A pop version of the gospel song "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray," which the group had previously recorded, the song reached number eight on the R&B chart and number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Valentinos' next hit was "It's All Over Now," which was released in 1964. At the end of that year, the group lost its bearings following the murder of Cooke, and ultimately disbanded. The Valentinos eventually got back together, but failed to find renewed success, and disbanded permanently following the murder of Harry Womack in 1974.

Solo Career Success, 1965-1985

Womack began his solo career in the latter half of the 1960s. He did work as a session musician, toured and recorded with Ray Charles, and played guitar on recordings by Joe Tex, the Box Tops, and Aretha Franklin, among other artists. In 1968, Womack signed with Minit Records, and the following year he released his debut solo album, "Fly Me to the Moon." Kicking off the 1970s, he released the album "My Prescription," composed the hit instrumental "Breezin'," and collaborated on albums by Janis Joplin and Sly and the Family Stone. Womack went on to sign with United Artists Records, where he had his solo breakthrough with the 1971 album "Communication." The album spawned his biggest hit song to date, "That's the Way I Feel About Cha." Womack continued his success with his 1972 album "Understanding," which yielded the hit singles "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "Harry Hippie." The former became his first single to reach number one on the R&B chart. In 1973, Womack released the hit album "Facts of Life" and the hit song "Across 110th Street," the title track from the blaxploitation film of the same name.

In 1974, Womack had his biggest hit single with "Lookin' for a Love," from his album "Lookin' for a Love Again." Previously a hit with the Valentinos, his solo version was even more successful, topping the R&B chart and becoming his only top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. After that, Womack's career declined, with albums such as "I Don't Know What the World is Coming To," "Safety Zone," and "BW Goes C&W" failing to find commercial success. However, he continued to collaborate with other artists, including Ronnie Wood and Wilton Felder. In the early 1980s, Womack signed with Beverly Glen Music and experienced a comeback with his album "The Poet," which spawned the hit single "If You Think You're Lonely Now." He subsequently released the 1984 sequel "The Poet II," featuring three duets with Patti LaBelle, including the hit ballad "Love Has Finally Come at Last." Womack had another R&B hit with his 1985 single "I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much," from his album "So Many Rivers."

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Late Career

Womack's career hit a low point in the 1990s, although he had moderate success in the UK with the single "I'm Back for More," a duet with Scottish singer Lulu. In 1994, he released his 20th studio album, "Resurrection," to mixed reviews. Its singles "Tryin' Not to Break Down" and "Forever Love" were mild successes on the R&B chart. After releasing the albums "Back to My Roots" and "Traditions" in 1999, Womack mostly focused on session and guest work. In 2012, he returned with his 27th studio album and the last released during his lifetime, "The Bravest Man in the Universe." Produced by Damon Albarn and Richard Russell and released on the UK-based label XL Recordings, the album was a critical hit. During his final years, Womack collaborated with such artists as Gorillaz, Rudimental, and Teena Marie.

Marriages and Children

In early 1965, at the age of 20, Womack attempted to marry Sam Cooke's widow Barbara in Los Angeles. However, the application was rejected due to Womack being under 21 years of age. The pair ultimately married a week later, the day after Womack's 21st birthday. They had a son named Vincent, who ended up killing himself at the age of 21. Womack's marriage to Cooke was highly scandalous, causing Womack to become a pariah as the industry, his family, and Cooke's family turned against him. In 1970, the couple broke up amid the discovery of Womack's affair with his 17-year-old stepdaughter Linda Cooke, and in 1971 they officially divorced. Womack was subsequently briefly married to his personal secretary Evelyn Evans.

Womack married his third wife, 19-year-old Regina Banks, on New Year's Eve in 1975. They had three children together: sons Truth and Bobby and daughter GinaRe. Truth died at the age of four months after being wedged between a wall and a bed. Womack and Banks separated in the early 1990s, but later remarried in 2013. Beyond his marriages, Womack had two sons named Cory and Jordan from his relationship with Jody Laba.

Health Issues and Death

A heavy drug user, Womack was known for his abuse of cocaine and pills, which became an addiction by the end of the 1970s. His condition worsened following the death of his infant son Truth in 1978. In 1985, Womack was hospitalized for blood circulation problems, and toward the end of the decade he entered rehab. He later had prostate cancer and colon cancer, both of which he survived, and dealt with type 2 diabetes and early signs of Alzheimer's.

On June 27, 2014, Womack passed away at his home in Los Angeles. His body was cremated, and his ashes were stored at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

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