At 70, Bobby Womack Finally Opens Up About Sam Cooke | HO

LOS ANGELES, CA — For more than half a century, Bobby Womack carried the twin burdens of soul music’s glory and scandal. Mentored by the legendary Sam Cooke, Womack rose from gospel prodigy to chart-topping star, only to be haunted by controversy after marrying Cooke’s widow just months after the singer’s shocking death.

Now, as the dust settles on both their legacies, Womack’s late-life reflections reveal the complex truth behind one of soul’s most storied relationships—one shaped by trust, betrayal, and an enduring artistic bond.

A Life Changed by a Legend

Bobby Womack’s journey began in the bustling churches of Cleveland, Ohio, where, as a child, he sang alongside his brothers in their family gospel group, the Womack Brothers. In the early 1950s, a chance encounter with Sam Cooke would alter the trajectory of his life forever.

At just nine years old, Bobby met Cooke backstage at a Baptist church event, where the Soul Stirrers were headlining. Cooke, already a respected gospel star, teased the young Womack, “If I let you open up the show, you’re not going to steal the show, are you?”

Womack’s performance stunned the audience—and Cooke himself. The moment sparked a mentorship that would shape Womack’s career and personal philosophy. Cooke saw in Bobby more than raw talent; he saw a future star. Over the years, Cooke kept in touch with the Womack family, nurturing their growth and eventually inviting them to join his newly founded SAR Records in 1961.

For Bobby, still a teenager, signing with Cooke was a leap into the deep waters of professional music. He and his brothers left school to pursue a life on the road, learning the intricacies of recording contracts, touring, and the music business under Cooke’s watchful eye. “He taught me about phrasing, stage presence, and believing in myself,” Womack later recalled. “Sam was more than a mentor—he was a guide through the chaos.”

From Gospel to Soul: Walking in Sam’s Shoes

Under Cooke’s tutelage, the Womack Brothers transitioned from gospel to secular music—a risky move in the early 1960s. Cooke produced their records and encouraged them to experiment with new sounds, leading to their rebranding as The Valentinos. In 1962, their single “Lookin’ for a Love” climbed the charts, blending gospel harmonies with the rhythms of rock and R&B.

Womack credited Cooke with shaping his identity as an artist. “Three-quarters of what I am musically, I owe to Sam,” he admitted in one interview. He studied Cooke’s every move—how he delivered emotion, balanced passion with restraint, and connected with audiences. When Cooke introduced Womack to “A Change Is Gonna Come,” the song’s haunting melody and prophetic lyrics left Bobby shaken. “It feels like death,” he confessed to Cooke, who replied, “That’s why I’m never going to play it in public.”

The exchange revealed the depth of Cooke’s artistry and the emotional toll of his work. Inspired by personal struggles and the civil rights movement, Cooke’s music became a blueprint for Womack, who learned that honesty and vulnerability were essential to true artistry.

Tragedy and Scandal: A Bond Tested

On December 11, 1964, Sam Cooke was shot and killed at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles. The official story—a case of self-defense by the motel manager—remains shrouded in controversy, with many, including Cooke’s family, suspecting foul play. For Womack, the loss was devastating. “It felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath me,” he said.

In the aftermath, Womack made a decision that would forever shadow his career: he married Cooke’s widow, Barbara, just months after the singer’s death. The move shocked fans and fueled tabloid speculation. To many, it seemed a betrayal of Cooke’s legacy. Womack insisted the marriage was born of shared grief, not ambition. “I wasn’t trying to disrespect Sam,” he explained. “I was trying to survive after losing him. Barbara was too.”

But the union quickly unraveled. Barbara discovered Womack’s affair with her teenage daughter, Linda, leading to a violent confrontation in which she fired a gun at Womack, forcing him to flee. The scandal deepened when Linda later married Bobby’s brother, Cecil Womack, and the pair found success as the duo Womack & Womack in the 1980s.

Throughout, Womack bore the brunt of public scrutiny. Fans who once celebrated his voice now whispered about his personal life. “I became the man who crossed a line,” he said, “the figure at the center of a scandal that blurred love, grief, and betrayal.”

Breaking His Silence: A Soul Man’s Reflection

By age 70, Bobby Womack had survived addiction, heartbreak, and relentless controversy. In interviews before his death in 2014, he reflected openly on the journey that shaped him. “I’m speaking for all those singers who gave up—Marvin, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett,” he told Pitchfork. “I’m going to set the record straight.”

Central to his reflections was Cooke. Womack acknowledged that his career was built on Cooke’s mentorship, repeating the truth he had carried all his life. But he also addressed the marriage to Barbara Cooke, explaining that it was driven by grief, not exploitation. “People thought I was wrong, but I wasn’t trying to disrespect Sam. I was trying to survive,” he said.

Womack did not excuse his mistakes, including the betrayal with Linda. He spoke with regret rather than denial, admitting the pain his actions caused. Yet, he balanced accountability with gratitude. “No scandal, no controversy, no missteps could erase the gratitude I felt for the man who believed in me,” he said.

Reclaiming His Identity: Rising from the Shadows

After years of living in Cooke’s shadow and enduring scandal, Womack knew he had to forge his own identity. Determined to silence critics, he turned to music, re-recording “Lookin’ for a Love” as a solo artist in 1974. The song topped the R&B charts and marked his first major triumph independent of Cooke’s legacy.

Success opened new doors, and Womack’s songwriting flourished. He blended gospel, soul, and rock into a sound uniquely his own. His lyrics, especially in “I’m in Love,” addressed the pain of being misunderstood and the determination to defend his choices. With each release, Womack’s reputation grew, and he proved he was more than the controversies that haunted him.

By the mid-1970s, Womack had redefined himself as a respected soul man with a catalog of hits. “Reclaiming my identity was about finally stepping into the spotlight as the man I always believed I could be,” he said.

Legacy Beyond Scandal

Despite the controversies, Womack insisted that Sam Cooke remained the defining figure of his life. “He lives on inside me,” Womack explained, “the lessons, the encouragement, the inspiration—so deeply woven into my being they can never be separated.”

This enduring connection was evident when Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. He paid tribute to Cooke and “A Change Is Gonna Come,” telling the audience, “Sam Cooke did ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ 50 years ago. Now change has come. It’s a new day. Sam, I want to thank you.”

For Womack, the story of his life could not be told without Cooke’s name beside his own. The friendship, the scandal, the grief, and the gratitude were all part of a complicated but unbreakable bond. “What matters most is that the essence of Sam’s artistry lives on in my work,” he said.

A Bond That Endures

As Bobby Womack’s voice faded into history, his reflections offered a rare glimpse into the soul of a man shaped by both triumph and tragedy. The bond with Sam Cooke—built on music, trust, and unshakable influence—endured beyond scandal and heartbreak. In the end, Womack’s legacy stands as a testament to the power of mentorship, forgiveness, and the enduring spirit of soul music.