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Oct 02, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Charles Bradley

Modern soul legend Charles Bradley passed away just over a week ago. The 68-year-old lost his battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer last fall and halted touring. After undergoing treatment, he was given a clean bill of health and was back on the road earlier this year. But the cancer returned and spread to his liver and in September he cancelled tour dates again due to his illness. Now his record label, Daptone, has shared a touching video tribute to Bradley. Jeff Broadway and Cory Bailey directed the brief documentary video, which features footage of Bradley at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria in 2014 as he performs an a cappella version of his track “Victim of Love,” and reflects on life and God. Watch it below.

Bradley became a successful musician late in life. 2011’s debut album, No Time for Dreaming, was released when Bradley was 62. Soul of America, Poull Brien’s documentary on Bradley, followed in 2012. Bradley then released two more albums, 2013’s Victim of Love and 2016’s Changes.

All throughout he was a tireless and energetic performer, still channeling James Brown (whom he once impersonated), but now with his own music. Performing to his limit in his 60s garnered him respect and acclaim. Bradley also had a special bond with his audiences. As he told us in an interview last year: “When you look at the expressions on the people’s faces, and you can see some of your own life in their faces and the changes that some people are going through. That’s why sometimes I like to go into the audience and just hug them, especially when I see someone hurting. People come to the front of the stage, and they whisper in my ear and tell me about their personal lives.”

Bradley sometimes performed with label-mate Sharon Jones, another modern soul legend who also found success late in life and passed away due to cancer last year.

Read our 2016 interview with Bradley about Changes.

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