R&B and Blues Legend Benny Latimore Dies at 86

Benny Latimore, the renowned R&B and blues singer, pianist, and songwriter, died at age 86 on August 22, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, according to multiple reports.

Born Benjamin William Lattimore in Charleston, Tennessee, in 1939, he rose to fame with his signature 1974 hit "Let's Straighten It Out," which topped the R&B charts and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100.

Latimore began his music career in the mid-1960s as a backing pianist in Florida. He gained recognition with his 1973 cover of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday," which reached No. 27 on the R&B chart, and a gender-flipped rendition of Gladys Knight’s "If You Were My Woman." His breakthrough came with his self-penned "Let's Straighten It Out," a soulful plea for communication between lovers.

Following this success, Latimore produced several more R&B hits, including "Keep the Home Fire Burnin'" (1975) and "Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha" (1976). His career spanned over five decades, with 13 charting singles and 27 albums, the last being a 2013 tribute to Ray Charles.

In the 1980s, as mainstream R&B evolved, Latimore shifted to a southern soul style, signing with Malaco Records in 1982. There, he released seven albums and continued recording for various labels, including his own LatStone Records established in 2007 with longtime collaborator Henry Stone.

Latimore remained active in Miami’s music scene, contributing as a session pianist to albums by Joss Stone and others. He also made a television appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in 2014 and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017, recognizing his significant influence on blues and soul music.

Harry Wayne Casey, known as KC from KC and the Sunshine Band and a former TK Records colleague, remembered Latimore as "charismatic, classy, kind, humble and respectful."

"He had this voice that would just take you in and swallow you up," Casey said. "At times it was silky smooth. And other times, commanding with soulful R&B energy."

Joe Stone, president of Henry Stone Music and son of producer Henry Stone, praised Latimore's unique style and passion, saying, "Benny was one of a kind. He had his own style of playing keyboard and a voice that was filled with deep passion. You could feel the emotion when he would sing."

Latimore’s early work at Miami’s TK Records contributed to the label’s legacy alongside artists like Betty Wright and Timmy Thomas. He played keyboards on several seminal recordings, including Wright’s "Clean Up Woman" and Bobby Caldwell’s 1978 album.

Scheduled to perform at the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in September 2026, Latimore's passing marks the loss of a true soul and blues icon whose music continues to influence generations.