Bobby Caldwell, R.I.P.

Singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist Bobby Caldwell passed away yesterday following a long illness. He was 71.

Although his music career spanned more than four decades starting from playing rhythm guitar for Little Richard and ending by singing jazz standards, Caldwell is best remembered for his 1978 R&B hit "What You Won't Do For Love" which appeared on his eponymous debut album for TK records which predominantly catered to an African-American audience. Unsure how to market Caldwell, TK Records put him in silhouette on the album cover. When he toured with Natalie Cole in the late 1970's, African-American audiences were astonished to see that Caldwell was white.

More than four decades later, this would shock a new generation of African-American YouTube reactors who quickly learned that soul comes in all colors. R.I.P.