Soul star Charles Bradley dies aged 68 after battle with cancer
Acclaimed funk singer Charles Bradley has passed away at the age of 68.
The news was announced via the singer's official Twitter account on Saturday.
The short statement read: 'It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Charles Bradley. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.'
American funk singer Charles Bradley has passed away at the age of 68
Bradley, who savored commercial stardom in his 60s after decades of scraping by, canceled all his upcoming shows earlier this month due to a cancer scare.
He had triumphantly returned to stage after a stomach cancer diagnosis a year ago.
Bradley called off 37 dates until the end of the year in North America, South America and Europe.
Bradley 'began to feel run down during recent tour dates and learned that his cancer spread to his liver, though hasn't returned to his stomach,' a statement said at the time.
Difficult time: The news was announced via his official Twitter account on Saturday
'He will be taking time off to focus on treatment and recovery,' he said.
Bradley, who frequently infused his Christian faith into his music, said in the statement: 'When I come back, I'll come back strong, with God's love.'
A Florida native, Bradley as a teenager in New York discovered soul legend James Brown at the Apollo Theater and later found a career as an impersonator.
Bradley canceled all his upcoming shows earlier this month due to a cancer scare. He is pictured performing in October 2016
Veteran Afrobeat group and Daptone Records labelmate Antibalas posted a message on Twitter
But even with a rich voice that evoked soul greats such as Otis Redding, he enjoyed little mainstream success on his own until the New York soul label Daptones signed him in the 2000s.
He released his debut studio album in 2011.
His third and last album, 2016's Changes, figured on several music magazines' lists of the year's top albums and, despite Bradley's Christian beliefs, featured a remake of occult-dabbling metal band Black Sabbath in its title song.
Late in life star: Even with a rich voice that evoked soul greats such as Otis Redding, he enjoyed little mainstream success on his own until the New York soul label Daptones signed him in the 2000s
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