Percy Sledge has passed away at age 73, losing a battle to liver cancer. He is best known for this heartbreaking, soulful song, "When A Man Loves A Woman", which was inspired by a break-up following losing a construction gig. The song hit #1 on Billboard in 1966. Despite having a lengthy career and several more hits, "When A Man Loves A Woman" became his signature song.
“When I came into the studio, I was shaking like a leaf. I was scared. The same melody that I sang when I was out in the fields. I just wailed out in the woods and let the echo come back to me.”
He enjoyed a career renaissance when the song peaked at #2 in Britain, thanks to an appearance in a TV commercial for Levi's and in the Oliver Stone film "Platoon."
Sledge still gave it his all, even going down on his knees, in this live performance.
The song inspired the name and the heartbreaking love story for the 1994 drama "When A Man Loves A Woman", starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan.
This is "I'll Be Your Everything", which was his last entry in Billboard's Hot 100, where it peaked at #62 in 1974, six years after the last of his hits appeared on the chart.
R.I.P. Percy Sledge, 1941-2015
