This morning, Tuesday April 14, 2015, the great soul singer Percy Sledge died of liver cancer at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was 73.

Mr. Sledge’s biggest hit was “When a Man Loves a Woman”—arguably a song that should be sung at every wedding! The soul ballad was such a huge hit—Number One Pop in 1966—that for the rest of his life he sang an overwhelming number of slow songs. Although he did record an occasional uptempo number—often with fine results, such as “Baby, Help Me”—it is for his exemplary balladry that he will always be known. Just listen to him sing songs that you may already know: “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Any Day Now,” “Many Rivers to Cross” or “Love Me Tender.” With his voice, he takes each song to new heights never before conceived. Of special note is his exquisite cover of “Kind Woman,” a song by the L.A. sixties rock group Buffalo Springfield. Written as a country ballad by Richie Furay, who would later form the country/rock group Poco, Although Furay sings the Buffalo Springfield song well, if you were to play the two versions back to back, you will come away thinking you have heard a genuine and fantastic soul singer: Percy Sledge

Here’s a list of the Percy Sledge albums currently in the ARChive:

• Any Day Now (Charly; UK, CRB 1078, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1984)
• Best Of Percy Sledge (Atlantic, SD 8210, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1969)
• Best Of Percy Sledge – That’s Soul (Atlantic; Australia, SD 50747, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, n.d.)
• Blue Night (Sky Ranch / Point Blank / Virgin; USA, 39871 2, 5″, Compact Disc, 1994)
• Essentials, The (Atlantic; USA, 76123, 5″, compact disc, 2002)
• I’ll Be Your Everything (Capricorn; USA, CPN 0147, 12″, vinyl disc-LP , 1974)
• I’ll Be Your Everything (Capricorn; USA, 314 546 221, 5″, compact disc, n.d.)
• It Tears Me Up – The Best Of Percy Sledge (Rhino/Atlantic; USA, 70285, 5″, compact disc, 1992)
• Percy! (Monument; USA, FW 38532, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1983)
•  Star-Collection (Midi; Germany, MID 20 019, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1972)
• Take Time to Know Her (Atlantic, SC 8180, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1968)
• Take Time To Know Her (Atlantic; Japan, AMCY-68, 5″, Compact Disc, [1968])
• Ultimate Collection, The: When a Man Loves a Woman (Atlantic, 80212-1, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1987)
• Ultimate Collection, The: When a Man Loves a Woman (Atlantic, 80212, 5″, compact disc, 1997)
• Wanted Again: The Country Sessions 1986 – 87 (Demon; UK, FIEND 140, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1989)
• Warm & Tender Soul (Atlantic; USA, SD 8132, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1966)
• When a Man Loves a Woman (Atlantic; USA, 8125, 12″, vinyl disc-LP, 1966)
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Atlantic; Japan, 20P2-2368, 5″, Compact Disc, [ 1966 ])