Timmy Thomas Cause of Death Tragic: Anti-War R&B Singer Dead at 77

R&B Singer Timmy Thomas passed away yesterday at 77 years old.

Born in Evansville, Timothy Earle Thomas, more widely known as Timmy Thomas, died from cancer in a MIAMI hospital last March 11.

His wife, Lillie Thomas, shared the tragic news on Facebook using Timmy's account.

"With appreciation and gratitude, the family extends a thank you for the prayers, support, precious words and other expressions of love and kindness during this time," the statement reads.

A viewing for Thomas will be held today in Miami, as his burial service will be held tomorrow at the same venue.

The funeral will be broadcasted live on the Royal Funeral Service's Facebook page.

The late R&B singer is survived by his wife and children, Tamara Marion, Li'Tina Thomas, Tremayne, and Travis. Thomas also left 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Aside from that, his eight siblings, including Diane Winton, Mary Davis, Ray Thomas, Kenneth Thomas, Doland Thomas, Jerome Thomas, Rev. Velma Thomas, and Rev. Jeffry Thomas, were left to reminisce his legacy.

Timmy Thomas' Beginnings and Legacy

Born in Nov 1944, Timothy told Blues & Soul magazine that he had been playing the organ at his father's church since he was ten years old.

His father, Richard Thomas, was a minister, while his mother, Gwendolyn Maddox Thomas, was a homemaker.

"I always had a good ear for music. I was one of 12 kids and most of them were into music, but I guess I pushed a little harder," he recalled.

Earning a degree in Music at Lane College in Jackson, Tennesee, Thomas recorded a few songs for the Goldwax label in Tennesee as he was a session musician at Sun and Stax Records.

Thomas was residing in Miami when he released his 1973 anti-war anthem "Why Can't We Live Together?" while being a teacher at the time.

Per to The Guardian, he received the inspiration for the song while listening to a radio broadcast from Walter Cronkite, in which he revealed hundreds of casualties on both sides of the Vietnam War.

"Why Can't We Live Together peaked at the No. 1 spot on Billboard's R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in early 1973.

Forty-two years later, Champagne Papi Drake sampled his song on his 2015 banger hit "Hotline Bling."

Thomas, who felt honored, recalled the privilege to Miami New Times in 2018.

"He had an opportunity to use Snoop Dogg beats, Dre beats, all these new beats. He went all the way back - and used my original," he looks back.