Legendary Muscle Shoals soul performer Percy Sledge has passed away at the age of 73.  A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Sledge was found in his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

While it would be easy to simply say Sledge was a one-hit wonder, that wouldn't put his importance to the music world in proper perspective.  The monster soul-ballad "When A Man Loves A Woman" dominated the charts in 1966 and continued to cast an influential shadow on the music form right up until the Hip Hop-era.  Although he had a few other singles that snuck into the Top Ten, it was his first release the solidified his place in the soul movement.

In addition to his fame in  America, Percy Sledge was also a big draw in the United Kingdom - continuing to tour until recently.  He also scored a number of hits on the U.K. charts.

 

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