Billboard says this man broke away from his early gospel musical training to join the secular world of pop singers, and his short life established a body of work that influenced many of his successors, black and white.  He was born in 1935 in Chicago and signed to RCA Records in 1960.  He wrote songs including “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay,” ”Wonderful World, ”Another Saturday Night” and many more.

In addition, he has produced some lesser known a cappella gospel recordings.