Jimmy Scott, who's voice influenced generations of musicians, passed away at the age of 88 in his Las Vegas home.
Scott's passing was confirmed by David Ritz, his biographer, but no cause of death was revealed, reports The Washington Post.
His early career was one filled with struggles, as his first hit song "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was released in 1950, but credit went to Lionel Hampton, his band leader. He was quiet up until the 1960s, when he released the blues album Falling in Love Is Wonderful.
According to Rolling Stone, it wouldn't be until the 1990s that Scott again saw success, though mainly for music he made up until the 1980s that somehow few ever heard.
He would find work with Lou Reed for the 1992 album Magic and Loss and Scott was also hired by David Lynch to sing "Sycamore Trees" for the last episode of the cult classic Twin Peaks.
Scott then continued releasing albums into the 2000s, with his final studio album being 2004's Moonglow.
Still, despite never seeing much in the way of sustained success, his music was critically acclaimed and his voice still impacted musicians, such as Madonna.
She noted "Jimmy Scott is the only singer who makes me cry." Reed also said the Jazz stylist had "the most extraordinary voice I've ever heard in my life."