Blue-Eyed Soul giant Bobby Caldwell dies at age 71

(March 15, 2023) This one really hurts. He was a world class songwriter who also happened to possess the kind of mellifluous voice that made him soul music royalty. Today we say a sad goodbye to legendary singer and songwriter Bobby Caldwell, a four decade star best known for his now-iconic hit "What You Won't Do For Love." He was 71.

It is particularly tough for those of us at SoulTracks who had interviewed Bobby over the years and found him to be both approachable and interesting. I was enough of a fan that "What You Won't Do For Love" has been my ringtone for more than a decade. 

Leaving home at age 17 with his band, Bobby went first to Las Vegas and then to Los Angeles before returning to Miami to record his 1979 eponymous debut album. It became an instant smash on the strength of "What You Won't Do For Love," a spellbinding mid-tempo number that would became one of the most recorded songs of the next three decades (with hit remakes by Peabo Bryson and Natalie Cole, Go West and Phyllis Hyman, among others).  Ironically, that track almost didn't make the album. The LP was completed without the song, but TK Records head Henry Stone sent Caldwell back into the studio because he "didn't see a hit" on the album.  Caldwell went back and quickly penned "What You Won't Do For Love," which ironically became his signature song. Overall, the album Bobby Caldwell was a solid debut that featured a few top notch ballads ("My Flame" and "Come To Me") along with listenable, if unspectacular, light disco tunes.

Bobby went to a more piano-based sound on his follow up, Cat In The Hat, which yielded the hit "Coming Down From Love" but was not nearly as popular as its predecessor. In 1982 he released Carry On, an excellent album that suffered from lack of promotion from his label and died a quick death.

After Carry On's commercial disappointment, Caldwell virtually disappeared as a performer in the U.S. for the remainder of the decade, though he was immensely popular in Asia. During that period he focused on his songwriting and became associated with hit producer David Foster.  His output was exceptional, as he penned hit songs for the Commodores, Chicago and Boz Scaggs and, most notably, the platinum smash "Next Time I Fall" for Peter Cetera and Amy Grant.

Caldwell's success as a writer led to an offer by Polydor to record a new album for the Asian market, consisting largely of his biggest compositions of the 80s. The album, Heart of Mine, became a major international hit and his vehicle for a return to the US market. Heart of Mine's US release in 1989 found a growing new genre ready to embrace Caldwell: Smooth Jazz. The disc became a big seller and established Caldwell as one of the early voices of the emerging Smooth Jazz movement.  

In 1991, Caldwell reestablished himself as a star, releasing Stuck On You, another album of quality cuts. It shot to the top of the Smooth Jazz charts and received play on urban adult contemporary stations. He followed it with the equally solid Where Is Love in 1993. As an artist clearly influenced by the soul artists of the 60s and 70s, in 1995 Bobby released Soul Survivor, an album of mostly covers of classic soul tunes, highlighted by his versions of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" and the Emotions' "Don't Ask My Neighbors." It became another hit. He also served as a frequent guest vocalist on albums by other jazz artists, including the Crusaders and Richard Elliott.

The formative years watching his parents perform came back in full swing in 1997, as Caldwell made Blue Condition, a big band album that was more authentic and far superior to the "standards" albums that other rock and pop artists had released over the previous decade. Again emphasizing his talent as a songwriter, Caldwell wrote a handful of period pieces and mixed them with classic songs of the 40s and 50s -- and his compositions held up well next to the classics. He followed Blue Condition with Come Rain or Shine, another big band album, and later recorded a live album of standards. Over the next decade Caldwell continued to alternate between new R&B/smooth jazz albums and big band projects.

In 2007 Caldwell moved to the East Coast and finished building a new in-home studio.  He continued to record, releasing After Dark in 2014 and collaborating with modern recording artist Jack Splash on the underground hit Cool Uncle project in 2015. He also toured, mostly on the US coasts, performing a dozen or two shows each year of both the big band and R&B styles.

Sadly, Caldwell's health issues began a half dozen years ago, when he experienced a significant reaction to an antibiotic resulting in bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures, and significant neuropathy. Despite several vigils by his fans, he continued to experience health problems through the time of his passing. He is survived by his devoted wife: Mary Beth (Roche) Caldwell, his loving daughters, Lauren Cromer and husband Charles, Tessa Chapman and Husband Daniel and step-daughter, Katherine “Katie” Moriarty, a sister, Lisa Caldwell and two grandsons, Tucker Chapman and Jack Cromer.

An artist who showed incredible versatility over the years, Bobby Caldwell will continue to hold a key spot on the playlists of fans around the world, even as we mourn this musical giant's passing.

by Chris Rizik

Funeral and Visitation Infomation:

Visitation will be Monday, March 20 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, N.J.

Burial will be private.

For those desiring, donations may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 in memory of Bobby Caldwell.