Linda Womack

Linda Cooke (born 25 April 1953) was born in Chicago, Illinois. Linda Womack, now professionally known as Zeriiya Zekkariyas, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.

She is primarily recognised for her extensive body of work within the soul and R&B genres, both as a solo performer and as one half of the duo Womack & Womack. Her career has been defined by a transition from the traditional soul structures of the American music industry to a more spiritually oriented and independent creative path.

Early Life

The daughter of the influential soul singer Sam Cooke and Barbara Campbell, she was raised within the epicenter of the American popular music industry. Following the death of her father in 1964, her mother married Bobby Womack, further embedding her in a prominent musical dynasty. Her early years were characterised by exposure to the songwriting and production processes of the 1960s soul era. This environment facilitated her development as a songwriter from an early age, as she began collaborating with members of the Womack family. Her musical foundation was built upon the gospel-inflected vocal traditions of her father and the guitar-driven soul arrangements typical of her stepfather’s work.

Career

Her professional career gained significant momentum in the late 1970s and 1980s as a songwriter and performer. Alongside her husband, Cecil Womack, she formed Womack & Womack, releasing their debut album Love Wars on Elektra Records in 1983. The duo achieved substantial commercial success with albums such as Radio M.U.S.I.C. Man (1985), Starbright (1986), and Conscience (1988), the latter of which featured the international hit single 'Teardrops'. As a songwriter, she co-wrote 'Woman's Gotta Have It' for Bobby Womack and 'Love T.K.O.', which became a definitive recording for Teddy Pendergrass. Her compositions have also been recorded by Patti LaBelle and George Benson. In 1993, the duo released Transformation Into The House Of Zekkariyas, marking a shift in their professional identity and musical direction.

Personal Life

She married Cecil Womack in 1979, and the couple had seven children. In the 1990s, the family relocated to South Africa, seeking a lifestyle and creative environment more aligned with their spiritual beliefs and ancestral connections. This move led to the adoption of the Zekkariyas surname and the formation of a family musical collective. Following the death of Cecil Womack in January 2013, she has continued to manage the family's artistic legacy. Her influence is noted in the enduring popularity of her compositions, which have been widely covered and sampled across various contemporary music genres.

Current Activities

She currently resides in Africa, where she oversees the creative output of her family collective, The House of Zekkariyas. Her recent professional efforts focus on the digital preservation of her extensive catalogue and the mentoring of her children’s musical pursuits. There are no confirmed public tour dates or new studio album releases scheduled for the current year; however, she remains involved in the management of her publishing interests and archival projects. Managed by her own production and representation teams, Zeriiya Zekkariyas is currently engaged in several high-profile projects related to the administration of the Womack & Womack estate and the development of independent multimedia content.