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R&B Singer Timmy Thomas Dead At 77

His songs have been sampled by artists like Drake.

R&B singer Timmy Thomas has died at 77 years old, according to reports,

According to The Guardian, Thomas’ family wrote on his Facebook page, “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.”

Born in Indiana, Thomas is best known for the 1973 anti-war song  “Why Can’t We Live Together,” which was sampled by Drake for his song “Hotline Bling.”

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In 2015, Thomas told Spin about the sample, “I was very proud to listen to what he had done with it. Even though he had changed the message that I had, you know, “Why can’t we live together.” But what it does is it gives me a chance for my name to be back out there, and gives me a chance to say something to the young people again. And that’s what [sic] exciting about it with me.”

A cause of death and the exact date of his passing was not revealed.

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