Soul singer Charles Bradley has passed away at 68 after succumbing to cancer. Diagnosed in 2016, Bradley quickly underwent treatment and was healthy enough to return to the road earlier this year. Sadly, the cancer returned and spread to his liver. Bradley died on September 23 in Brooklyn.
The singer went peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, including members of the bands he worked closely with — Menahan Street Band, His Extraordinaires, Budos Band and the Jimmy Hill Allstarz.
Born in 1948 in Gainesville, Florida, Bradley was estranged from his family at a young age and homeless for a period of time before reconnecting with his mother in 1996. Together, they settled in Brooklyn, where his career took off.
He was eventually signed to Daptone Records after years of moonlighting as a James Brown impersonator under his stage name Black Velvet. Daptone co-founder Gabriel Roth discovered him while Bradley was performing at a club under his stage moniker one night.
Bradley started pumping out singles in 2002 with Daptone, but his first official studio album wasn’t released until 2011, when he dropped No Time For Dreaming. In 2016, he released what would be his final album, Changes, which featured a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes.”
Many Hip Hop artists have sampled Bradley’s music, including JAY-Z on the 2013 song “Open Letter.”
Countless members of the music community took to social media to express their condolences. From Questlove and El-P to Atmosphere and BADBADNOTGOOD, it’s clear Bradley’s music left a lasting impact, one that will be felt long after his death.
Check out those reactions below.
Damn. R.i.p such a beautiful voice and soul. His music will live on. For someone of that age to make an impact so late in his life shows talent will always shine through.
Ugh I have never heard of this man and I’m kind of embarrased but ima check him out of of respect Bc I love our culture. And also let’s chill on the trolling and have legitimate convos. Y’all ruining the site with all that silly shit.
Nothing to be embarrassed about. Even though he was 68 he only really came on the scene in the last 10 years or so. But I love your attitude of wanting to know who he is. I think that’s missing these days.
He had a cameo in the Luke Cage show, and I looked him up at the time and dug a few of his songs. Not gonna act like I was a huge fan, but sad nonetheless. I didn’t realize he was a semi-new artist, I figured he was around since the ’70s or something. That’s impressive to become a famous entertainer in your 50s, or maybe just unheard of to me since I listen to rap and metal, which never break new artists older than 35.
twitter circle jerk commence! ain’t none of these ppl give a fuck about dude when he was alive
Ikr. How come these fake fucks weren’t giving him props while he was alive, smfh.
Man he had a song call never let you go and that joint banged so hard! I watch a documentary on dude, real humble cat that was just trying to take care of his mom
RIP Charles Bradley it just goes to show you can follow dreams at any age he came in the game at a very mature age don’t give up on your dreams and goals
fuck this ugly ass old man
Where do people like you come from?
from rapradar
Fuk u
These little morons on this site have no clue who Charles Bradley is