Percy Sledge: 1941-2015

Percy Sledge, singer of the classic song "When A Man Loves A Woman" passed away this morning at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 74. 

Sledge was working as a nurse in a hospital in the late 60's and singing and touring on the weekends when he was first discovered. Believe it or not, "When A Man Loves A Woman" is his first recorded song and it would go on to become a huge international hit and spent most of the year of 1966 at number 1, the song was even re-issued in 1987 only to become a hit AGAIN reaching number 2 on the charts that year.

Percy Sledge went on to have more hits but never reached the top of the charts again but he created one of the greatest songs ever written and recorded and is one of the early artists partially responsible for the rise of soul music and for that, he's a member of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We send our condolences to his family and friends.