After hearing a few tracks from soul singer/songwriter Charles Bradley, most listeners can sense the musician led a difficult life. With songs centered around heartbreak, struggle and defeat, Bradley created an image for himself as an individual who saw difficult days and faced disappointment with a melancholy demeanor. Somehow his music doesn't necessarily come across as sad or depressing--Bradley spins yarns as somewhat of a sage teacher who provides lessons for those who have been through hard times. Though he existed under the radar of the soul scene for decades, it wasn't until he was discovered by the respectable New York label Daptone Records in 2010 that people started to truly take notice of his powerful songwriting ability. After achieving success for several years, Bradley died in 2017 at the age of 68 after a struggle with liver cancer.
