Bobby Caldwell, the singer and songwriter famous for his platinum hit “What You Won’t Do For Love,” passed away at 71 years old, as confirmed by his wife, Mary. She shared the news via his official Twitter account. She revealed that he had been struggling with health issues caused by the toxicity of fluoroquinolone antibiotics over the last six years.
Caldwell’s parents hosted a musical variety show, “Suppertime,” which influenced him heavily to make music as a teenager. His love for show tunes and artists such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and The Beatles shaped his musical journey.
Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 and has been covered by Boys II Men, Natalie Cole, and Michael Bolton, among others, and sampled by Tupac Shakur. His song “Next Time I Fall” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and was nominated for a Grammy.
Vanessa Williams, the Notorious B.I.G, Common, and others have sampled Caldwell’s songs, and his music has contributed to over 40 million record sales.
Questlove, who collaborated with Common on the song “The Light,” which sampled Caldwell’s “Open Your Eyes,” paid tribute to Caldwell’s voice and gift on Instagram, expressing his regret at not having met the legend.
Bobby Caldwell’s contribution to the music industry will be remembered fondly by his fans and fellow musicians alike.
