Percy Tyrone Sledge (November 25, 1941 – April 14, 2015)

The man who summed up the feeling of all men in true love died yesterday. If you ever felt the pain of unrequited love can sympathise with his most famous song ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’. The song came about when he lost his girlfriend to a modelling career at the same time as losing his construction job.

Although he got a contract with Atlantic Records the pain of loss was so great he gave away the publishing rights to the song to Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright who helped him with the song. This act of friendship cost Percy Sledge a huge amount of money through publishing rights.

Percy Sledge had many other hits but it is this one track that will constantly live on in weddings and other places where the subject of love is the main topic.

He leaves a wife and 12 children.

Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman (1966)

Percy Sledge – Warm and Tender Love (1966)