LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 08: Singer Bobby Caldwell attends the Soul Train Awards 2013 at the Orleans Arena on November 8, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)
Bobby Caldwell, a renowned American singer-songwriter known for his genre-bending style of music, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71.
According to his wife, Mary, Caldwell died due to Fluoroquinolone toxicity after an antibiotic he was prescribed in 2017 wreaked “havoc” on his body. Although the official cause of death has not been released, Mary confirmed the news to NBC News.
Caldwell’s passing marks a significant loss to the music industry. He was heavily influenced by music legends such as Nat King Cole and the Beatles and had embarked on his music career at the age of 17.
Throughout his career, he wrote and sang several hits, including “What You Won’t Do for Love” and “My Flame.”
Caldwell’s ability to tap into multiple genres, including jazz and R&B, gave his music longevity. His hit song “What You Won’t Do for Love” was sampled by Boyz II Men in 1997 for their song “To the Limit” almost 20 years after its initial release. Rapper Biggie Smalls also sampled Caldwell’s music, using “My Flame” in his hit “Sky’s the Limit,” which was later used in a biopic about Smalls’s life and career.
Caldwell lived in New Jersey and is survived by his wife and daughters. His contribution to music and his unique style will always be remembered by fans and fellow musicians.
Speaking to the media, Mary shared that Caldwell had been prescribed Fluoroquinolone for a runny nose and cough, which should never have happened. She emphasized that the drug had irreversible effects if a person got hit with it badly.
Fluoroquinolone is an antibiotic commonly used to treat serious bacterial infections but has been associated with disabling side effects such as nerve damage. The Food and Drug Administration had issued a warning in 2016 regarding the use of Fluoroquinolone for treating “less serious” bacterial infections.
