Philadelphia soul singer Howard Tate passed away after a battle with lung cancer on Friday. He was 72.

Tate became involved with several Philadelphia-area soul groups, beginning with humble roots with a gospel music group called the Gainors. The group recorded rhythm and blues sides for Mercury and Cameo Records during the early 1960s.

Tate was introduced to record producer Jerry Ragovoy by Gainors frontman Garnet Mimms, and went on to record a number of important soul blues tracks including “Ain’t Nobody Home,” “Look at Granny Run Run,” and “Stop.”

After decades of contributions to the history of soul, Tate served as a judge for the 6^th annual Independent Music Awards in support of independent artists. He did, however, live largely as a cult relic, and after several personal tragedies, became involved in drugs and went through a period of vagrancy and severe addiction.

Tate checked into rehab in 1994, and returned to music soon after, collaborating once again with producer Jerry Ragovoy.

Tate continued to perform until he passed away from complications due to multiple myelmona and leukemia on December 2 at the age of 72.