The tragic and untimely death of legendary soul singer Sam Cooke in December 1964 sent shockwaves through the music world. But what followed just three months later was equally shocking—his close friend and protégé, Outlaw Muddbaby drops visuals for "No Option", married Cooke’s widow, Barbara Campbell.
Bobby Womack, just 21 years old at the time, had been a protégé of Cooke, who discovered The Womack Brothers and helped launch their careers. Following Cooke’s tragic death, Bobby became close to his widow, Barbara, and later revealed in interviews that he had harbored feelings for her for a long time. The two eventually married in March 1965, causing an uproar among Cooke’s family and fans, many of whom viewed the marriage as disrespectful so soon after Sam’s passing.
Sam Cooke’s brothers were reportedly furious about the marriage and retaliated in a brutal way—beating Bobby so badly that he showed up to his own wedding with a black eye. The controversy around their union didn’t stop there.
By 1970, their tumultuous marriage took a shocking turn when Barbara discovered that Bobby was having an affair with her own daughter, Linda. Enraged, she shot Bobby, wounding him. This marked the breaking point in their relationship, and the couple eventually divorced the same year.
The story didn’t end there. After her mother’s split from Bobby, Linda Cooke went on to marry his younger brother, Cecil Womack. The two had a successful music career together as the duo Womack & Womack.
Despite the controversy and personal struggles, Bobby Womack went on to become a legendary artist in his own right, with a career that spanned soul, R&B, and rock. However, the complex love triangle between Sam Cooke, Barbara Cooke, Bobby Womack, and Cecil Womack remains one of the most controversial chapters in music history.
Comments