Percy Sledge – the singer best known for his enduring 1966 hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" – passed away today at the age of 73.
Reps for Sledge say that he had been battling cancer for several years and died peacefully at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A consummate entertainer throughout his life, Sledge continued touring and performing until last year, when his disease prevented him from traveling.
Sledge had other hits over the course of his five decades in music, including "Time to Make Her Know" and "Warm and Tender Love," but nothing could match the success of his first number one.
"When a Man Loves a Woman" has appeared on dozens of movie soundtracks and been covered by hundreds of other artists.
It hit number one for a second time when Michael Bolton recorded his own version in 1991.
Though he sadly never saw a dime in royalties for the song, Sledge spoke fondly about his signature tune in one of his tunes.
"The granddaddy to all of my songs. The boss of all of my songs. I have great respect for that song," he told Blues and Soul magazine. "Always will."
Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Click through the gallery below for a complete list of the celebrities we’ve lost in 2015.