Social media has been flooded with messages of condolence for soul and R&B singer Percy Sledge who passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday in Louisiana.
Having battled with cancer of the liver for over a year, the singer also underwent surgery for his condition in 2014.
Agency representative of Artists International Management Inc, Steve Green confirmed with the BBC of the passing away of the singer.
While the singer is remembered as one of R&B's greatest singers , Sledge began life like most of his era among the fields of cotton in Alabama. Thereafter he took up work as a hospital attendant.
It is reported that a patient once heard him and recommended him to a record producer and the rest became history.
No sooner was the announcement of the 'When A Man Loves A Woman' singer made public social media was bombarded with messages of condolence from artistes of all genres.
Singer Darius Rucker took to twitter to post the following message : "We lost a legend today. Prayers to Percy Sledge's family, may he rest in peace.
Another musician Bootsy Collins took to his Facebook page to pay tribute with these words:
"Just lost another legend funkateers, Mr. "Percy Sledge". He was an American R&B and soul performer who most notably recorded the single 'When a Man Loves a Woman' in 1966."
The iconic love song which Percy Sledge is best remembered by was "one of the all time classic songs," British braodcaster Paul Gambacini told the BBC.
Mr Gambacini said the track 'When A Man Loves A Woman'was in a "world of its own" and that it was "drpping with feeling."
The song, was first recorded in 1966 at the Muscle Shoal sound studio in Alabama. The song topped the R&B singles charts as well as the Billboard Hot 100.
Organists Spooner Oldham, who played the organ for Sledge's track told Times Daily that the singer's talent amazed him and despite being a novice he did the song justice.
Sledge was inducted into several musci hall of fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Hall of Fame and the Alabama Hall of Fame.