Curtis Womack

Howard Curtis Womack (22 October 1942 – 21 May 2017; Cleveland, Ohio), better known as Curtis Womack, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist and songwriter.

He gained prominence as a core member of the family vocal group The Womack Brothers, which later achieved secular crossover success as The Valentinos. Renowned for his smooth tenor delivery, he frequently traded lead vocals with his brother, the legendary soul musician Bobby Womack, helping to shape the sound of mid-century American rhythm and blues.

Early Life

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack was raised in a deeply religious and musical household by his parents, Friendly and Naomi Womack. In the late 1950s, his father assembled a family gospel group that featured Friendly Jr., Curtis, Bobby, and Harry, with their mother Naomi playing the organ and their father playing guitar.

The young siblings developed their foundational vocal techniques performing at their father's local church, situated around the East 85th and Quincy area of Cleveland. Under the initial moniker of Curtis Womack and The Womack Brothers, the ensemble began touring the Midwest gospel circuit and recorded an early single titled "Buffalo Bill" in 1954 for the Pennant label when Curtis was just ten years old.

Career

The course of Womack’s professional career shifted when the brothers met the up-and-coming soul pioneer Sam Cooke, who was performing with the Soul Stirrers and subsequently invited them to open for one of his shows.

In 1961, Cooke signed the brothers to his newly formed SAR Records label and encouraged them to transition from gospel to secular rhythm and blues, reorganising the group under the name The Valentinos and relocating them to Los Angeles, California. Under Cooke's mentorship, the group secured a string of prominent rhythm and blues hits, including the tracks "Looking for a Love," "I'll Make It Alright," and "It's All Over Now," the latter of which became a definitive international hit when covered by the Rolling Stones.

Following the tragic shooting and death of Cooke in December 1964, the group was left without a mentor, and months later, Bobby Womack married Cooke's widow, Barbara. The resulting backlash from bitter fans left The Valentinos without a career, prompting Womack to attempt a solo comeback single in 1966 for Chess Records, which failed to chart.

He subsequently focused his talents on providing vital background and harmony vocals for his brother Bobby's solo recordings, a collaborative arrangement he maintained across numerous projects until announcing his formal retirement in the nineties.

Personal Life

Beyond his musical contributions, Womack's personal history remained deeply intertwined with his extended musical family, including a notable relationship with Motown star Mary Wells following her divorce from his younger brother, Cecil Womack, with whom he fathered a daughter named Sugar.

He was married to Sharon Donice Mosley from 1962 until their divorce in 1980, and was later accompanied by his long-time companion Bernice Carruthers, leaving a legacy carried on by his five children, including musician Curtis "Binky" Womack, and thirteen grandchildren.

On 21 May 2017, Womack passed away at the age of 74 at the Bluefield Regional Medical Center in Bluefield, West Virginia, due to respiratory heart failure, leaving his eldest brother, Friendly Womack Jr., as the sole surviving member of the original brotherly quintet. His artistic legacy endures through his influential contributions to early soul vocal styles and his role in launching one of the most celebrated dynasties in American rhythm and blues