Cecil Womack facts for kids

Cecil Dale Womack (born September 25, 1947 – died January 25, 2013) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was part of the famous Womack musical family. Cecil found success both writing songs and performing. He was especially well-known for his work with his wife, Linda Womack, as the duo Womack & Womack. Later in his life, he adopted the name Zekkariyas.

Cecil Womack's Music Career

Cecil Womack was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his brothers, Bobby, Harry, Friendly, and Curtis, started as a gospel group in the mid-1950s. They were discovered by Sam Cooke, a famous singer from the Soul Stirrers. Cooke signed them to his record label, SAR Records.

The Valentinos and Early Hits

Under Sam Cooke's guidance, the brothers changed their name to the Valentinos. In 1961, they began singing and recording for a wider audience, not just gospel. The Valentinos had popular songs like "Lookin' for a Love" and "It's All Over Now". The Rolling Stones even covered "It's All Over Now," making it even more famous.

After Sam Cooke's death in 1964, their record label closed. Bobby Womack, who had married Sam Cooke's widow, Barbara, left the group to start a solo career. The Valentinos broke up for a short time. They reformed in 1966 as a quartet and signed with Chess Records. There, they recorded "Sweeter than the Day Before," a popular song written by Cecil Womack and singer Mary Wells.

Songwriting and Producing

Cecil Womack married Mary Wells in 1966. They started a music company together called Well-Wom. The Valentinos were dropped from Chess Records in 1968, and Cecil decided to leave the group.

As the 1960s continued, Cecil Womack became very successful as a songwriter and producer. He wrote several hit R&B songs for his wife, Mary Wells. These included "The Doctor" and "Dig The Way I Feel."

Cecil also wrote songs for many other famous artists. Some of his well-known songs include "Love TKO" for Teddy Pendergrass, "I Just Want To Satisfy You" for the O'Jays, and "Love Symphony" for Patti LaBelle. He also wrote "Your Song" for Four Tops and "New Day" for George Benson.

Womack & Womack Duo

In 1983, Cecil and his wife Linda started performing and recording music together. Linda is the daughter of Sam Cooke. They formed the duo Womack & Womack. Their first album, Love Wars, was very successful. The song "Love Wars" reached number 14 in the UK. Another song, "Baby I'm Scared Of You," was a hit on the US R&B charts.

In 1988, their song "Teardrops" became a huge international hit. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide. "Teardrops" reached number 3 in the UK and number 1 in the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

New Name and Later Work

After traveling to Nigeria, Cecil and Linda learned about their family ties to the Zekkariyas tribe. Cecil then adopted the name Zekkariyas. In 1993, they released their last album with a major record label, called Transformation To The House Of Zekkariyas. They continued to write songs for other singers, such as Ruby Turner and Randy Crawford.

Famous Songs Covered by Other Artists

Many artists have covered songs written by Cecil Womack.

• Mary Wells recorded "Two Lovers' History" by The Valentinos in 1968.
• "Love Wars" by Womack & Womack was covered by The Beautiful South.
• Songs like "Lead Me On" have been recorded by Eric Clapton, Elton John, K.D. Lang, and Sugababes.
• His most famous song, "Love T.K.O.," has been covered by many artists. It was first recorded by Teddy Pendergrass. Later, Boz Scaggs, Bette Midler, and Michael McDonald also recorded it.
• "Teardrops" has been covered by Lulu, Joss Stone, Sugababes, and Roosevelt.

Cecil Womack's Personal Life

In 1966, Cecil Womack married Motown singer Mary Wells. They had children together. They later divorced in 1977.

Cecil then married Linda Cooke, who was the daughter of Sam Cooke. This created an interesting family connection. Cecil's brother, Bobby Womack, had married Sam Cooke's widow, Barbara Campbell, in 1965. So, Cecil married Sam Cooke's daughter, and his brother married Sam Cooke's widow!

Cecil and Linda had seven children together. They had homes in Africa and Thailand. After 1994, Cecil Womack was known professionally and personally by his new name, Zekkariyas.

Death

Zekkariyas spent his last years traveling the world with his wife and children. He used this time to learn more about his African heritage and spirituality. He also continued to make music. He passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa, on January 25, 2013. He was 65 years old. The cause of his death was not publicly known.