Womack & Womack

Before issuing their debut joint record in 1983, Cecil Womack, who entered the world in 1947, and his spouse Linda, born in 1952, shared an extensive past. Having started out among the gospel-rooted Womack Brothers who later became the Valentinos, Cecil toured with Sam Cooke during the early 1960s, while Linda herself was Cooke’s daughter. The pair had already established themselves as successful songwriters for performers such as Teddy Pendergrass, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin before stepping forward as a duo. Songwriting stayed at the heart of their partnership, which opened with Love Wars and its Top 40 R&B hit “Baby I’m Scared of You.” Radio M.U.S.C. Man (1985) included unfinished Sam Cooke songs that the couple completed, and further releases followed with Conscience in 1988 and Family Spirit in 1991.