'He Was a Bad Man': Peers Pay Tribute as R&B and Blues Legend Latimore Dies at 86

R&B and blues legend Latimore died on Saturday at the age of 86, according to multiple reports, bringing to a close a career that spanned more than five decades. The singer, songwriter and keyboardist left an enduring mark on Southern soul and blues.

Born Benjamin William Latimore in Charleston, Tennessee, in 1939, the celebrated artist began recording professionally in Miami in the mid-1960s. He steadily built his career before breaking through nationally in the 1970s. His talent eventually earned him induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.

Fans and peers quickly took to social media to mourn the loss. Their tributes highlighted both Latimore's musicianship and the influence his work had on generations of Southern soul and blues performers.

An Unforgettable Musical Legacy

Fellow musician Calvin Nared Walton shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook. He praised both the voice and keyboard skills of the late star.

'He was a powerful singer and a helluva keyboard player,' Walton wrote. He pointed followers towards a live performance of Latimore's signature song as an example of his talent.

'This live version is everything,' Walton noted. 'If you're unfamiliar or if you need to have your memory refreshed, check it out.'

Walton then added a simple but deeply respectful summary of his peer. 'He was a bad man,' he declared in his post. 'RIP.'

Another tribute shared on Facebook by Jennifer Henderson focused on Latimore's enduring influence on Southern soul.

'The Blues and Southern Soul world has lost a true legend,' Henderson shared. She called him the unforgettable voice behind his biggest hit.

She noted that his talent paved the way for future generations. 'His influence can still be heard throughout Southern Soul today,' Henderson wrote.

'Legends never truly leave us, their music keeps playing,' she observed. She thanked him for the music, the memories and the legacy.

The tributes reflected the respect Latimore earned during a career that continued long after his biggest mainstream chart successes.

Chart Hits and a Lifetime of Soul

Latimore found his first major chart success in 1973 with his interpretation of T-Bone Walker's blues standard 'Stormy Monday'. The recording reached No. 27 on Billboard's R&B chart.

He followed that success with 'If You Were My Woman', a gender-switched version of the song made famous by Gladys Knight & the Pips. The single reached No. 70 on the R&B chart.

However, his defining commercial breakthrough arrived in 1974. The release of 'Let's Straighten It Out' changed everything for the artist and became the song most closely associated with his career.

The single reached No. 1 on Billboard's R&B chart and crossed over to No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was followed by further R&B hits, including 'Keep the Home Fire Burnin'' and 'Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha'.

The legendary musician boasted a career that spanned more than five decades. His catalogue included 13 singles that reached Billboard's R&B chart, stretching from his 1970s breakthrough through the following decade. His final Billboard R&B chart entry came in 1986 with 'Sunshine Lady', which reached No. 76.

Latimore continued recording well beyond his commercial chart peak, moving to Malaco Records in the 1980s and remaining a fixture of the Southern soul and blues circuit. He later established LatStone Records and continued releasing and performing music into the 2010s.

Among his later releases was 2013's Latimore Remembers Ray Charles, a tribute to one of the artists whose work helped shape American soul and R&B.

His career also extended beyond his own records. Latimore worked as a session pianist and contributed to Joss Stone's albums The Soul Sessions and Mind Body & Soul. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014.

Three years later, the Blues Foundation inducted Latimore into its Blues Hall of Fame, formally recognising the singer and keyboardist's contribution to the genre.

His death closes a career stretching from Miami's 1960s soul scene to decades of Southern soul performances, but 'Let's Straighten It Out' remains hi