If you Think You're Lonely Now, it must be because It's All Over Now... for American soul legend Bobby Womack - musician, poet, and friend to many whose lives he touched when he wrote some of the world's most soulful songs, for him and for other musicians of his time.

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Messages of grief, tribute, and recollection on Bobby Womack flooded social media from all over the world after publicist Sonya Kolowrat confirmed his death Thursday. Robert Dwayne Womack was diagnosed in recent years with colon cancer, prostate cancer, and was also suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The exact cause of his death has not been announced. He was 70.

Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood led tributes to Womack, when he tweeted, "I'm so sad to hear about my friend Bobby Womack - the man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing."

The soul legend gave The Rolling Stones their first number one UK hit in 1964 when they recorded a version of It's All Over Now. Bobby let the group record the song after he was persuaded by his closest friend Sam Cooke, the group's mentor.

Last year, Womack performed with Ronnie Wood at London's Royal Albert Hall. Just two weeks ago, the soul legend performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

In a statement following Womack's death, childhood friend gospel singer Candi Staton described her friendship with Womack when they were touring together.

"He had a style that nobody else could ever capture. I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much," Staton said.

Blur singer Damon Albarn, who was instrumental in getting Womack back into the spotlight in 2010, marked his death with the tweet: "I will see my brother in church."

Singer Ceelo Green tweeted about Bobby's death, "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

Before he died, Womack was working on his next album, reportedly featuring contributions from Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Snoop Dogg. The working title was The Best is Yet to Come.

Bobby was only 10 years old when he started mastering the guitar in his native Cleveland, and joined his older brother Curtis as the Womack Brothers. They toured the gospel circuit with their parents accompanying them. Their father was a Baptist minister and musician, and their mother played the organ during church service.

Speaking during his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009, Bobby said, "My very first thought was - I wish I could call Sam Cooke and share this moment with him."

"This is just about as exciting to me as being able to see Barack Obama become the first black President of the United States of America! It proves that, if you're blessed to be able to wait on what's important to you, a lot of things will change in life."

Bobby is survived by four of his six children. Infant son Truth died in the '70s. Another son, Vincent, committed suicide in 1986 at age 21.

TagsBobby Womack, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ronnie Wood, Ceelo Green