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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Soul singers gone too soon

Charles Bradley performs in The Current studio.
Charles Bradley performs in The Current studio.MPR photo/Nate Ryan

by Anna Reed

September 25, 2017

Over the weekend, funk, soul and R&B singer Charles Bradley died of liver cancer at age 68.

"I sing the way I feel and the things that I've seen in life and the things I'm going through," he said in a 2016 in-studio session here at The Current. We were lucky enough to get a visit from him in 2013 as well, where he proved it's never too late for a musical talent to enter the ring, issuing his debut album at age 62.

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what soul singers do you want to hear who were gone too soon?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - People Don't Get What They Deserve
Sam Cooke - A Change is Going to Come
Sonny Knight and The Lakers - Sooner Or Later
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
Charles Bradley - Why Is It So Hard?
Otis Redding - Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)
Amy Winehouse - Wake Up Alone
Sam and Dave - Soul Man
Billie Holiday - Lady Sings The Blues