Billy Paul, Legendary soul singer best known for the hit ballad, Me and Mrs. Jones, died on Sunday at the age of 81.

Paul breathed his last at his home in Blackwood, New Jersey. His co-manager, Beverly Gay, confirmed the news, adding that the musician was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was admitted to the Temple University Hospital last week.

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"We regret to announce with a heavy heart that Billy has passed away today at home after a serious medical condition," reads a statement on Paul's website.

"We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his wife Blanche and family for their loss, as they and the world grieves the loss of another musical icon that helped pioneered todays R&B music. Billy will be truly missed."

Born in 1934 in Philadelphia, Paul started his six-decade long music career at the tender age of 11, with local radio shows before attending the West Philadelphia Music School and the Granoff School of Music to learn singing.

In his teenage years, Paul had the opportunity to perform at jazz clubs with music legends including Charlie Parker, Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Dinah Washington.

At the age of 20, the singer took a break from his career to serve in the military and was deployed on the same base as the likes of Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby's son, Gary Crosby.

In 1968, he released his debut album Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club, after which he went on to release 14 more albums up until 1988. However, Paul only achieved mainstream success after his 1972 hit Me and Mrs Jones.

The song, written and produced by Gamble and Huff, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts and won Paul a Grammy Award for best male R&B performance.

Paul is survived by his wife Blanche and two children.

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