Soul Singer Charles Bradley Is Dead At 68

The R&B star passed away from cancer.

September 23, 2017

R&B legend Charles Bradley has passed away after a long battle with cancer. An official statement about his passing posted on his social media accounts. Bradley's representatives released the following statement:

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"Always a fighter, Charles battled cancer with everything he had. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2016 and underwent treatment. Bradley headed out on the road earlier this year after receiving a clean bill of health but the cancer recently returned, spreading to his liver. Thank you for your prayers during this difficult time. Mr. Bradley was truly grateful for all the love he’s received from his fans and we hope his message of love is remembered and carried on."

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Earlier this month, the 68-year-old was forced to cancel his upcoming tour due to the spread of cancer in his liver. He was previously diagnosed with stomach cancer a year ago, but recently announced that he beat it.

Bradley's talent wasn't publicly recognized until 2011 when he released his debut album No Time for Dreaming. Prior to that, he was known for his work as a James Brown impersonator in Brooklyn. In an exclusive premiere with The FADER last year, Bradley described his single "Change For The World" as a call to arms.

"This world is in turmoil—guns, violence—people are feeling like they have no way out," he said. "Young people don't know which way to turn. This song is about opening up our minds to understand—talk with the young people, hear what they have to say."

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Bradley's third and final album Changes is out now. Read all the heartbroken messages about his passing from the music community in the posts, below.

Respect to Brother Charles. So Much Soul.

A post shared by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on

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Soul Singer Charles Bradley Is Dead At 68