Syl Johnson has died at the age of 85 his family confirmed in a statement on Sunday.
The singer was best known for his 1967 hit Different Strokes, but was also heavily featured in Hip-Hop tunes over the years.
No cause of death was given at the time for the man his family called a "legend".
The family statement read: "It is with extreme sadness that our family announces the passing of Soul & Blues Hall of Fame legend Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, MS).
"Dad, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle, Friend & Artist, he lived his life as a singer, musician, and entrepreneur who loved black music."
Syl made his name in the industry in the '60s and '70s when he was signed to Chicago label Twighlight.
He described himself as a "jack-of-all-trades" as he went on to release tunes across several genres.
His debut album in 1968 was titled Dresses Too Short and featured the popular tune Different Strokes - a song which later featured on a range of songs, including Public Enemy's Fight the Power, Jay-Z and Kanye West 's The Joy and De La Soul's The Magic Number.
According to WhoSampled, the hit has featured on over 300 songs to date.
Throughout his career, Syl released a dozen albums, including Is It Because I'm Black, Back for a Taste of Your Love, Suicide Blues and Bridge to Legacy.
Despite retiring from music in the '80s, he returned in the mid-1990s to release a song with his daughter Syleena Johnson who is best known for being the guest vocal on Kanye's single All Falls Down.
A box set of his work was released by Numero Group in 2010 titled Complete Mythology. It was nominated for two Grammys at the time, one for Best Historical Album and another for Best Liner notes.
Following the announcement of his death fans flocked to social media to pay their respects.
One Twitter user wrote alongside a black and white image of the star: "Syl Johnson, July 1, 1936- February 6, 2022.
"Sock it to 'em wherever you end up next, old friend."
Another penned: "RIP Brother Black heart
"Syl Johnson, much-sampled blues, funk and soul singer, dies aged 85. Singer’s upbeat and socially conscious songwriting appears on tracks by Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy and Kanye West"
And a third wrote: "Syl Johnson died! He was an absolutely wonderful, incredibly talented singer."
