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Rudy Mockabee is pictured performing at the Holiday Inn on University Drive. (Huntsville Times file photo)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- One of Huntsville's most soulful and venerable voices is now silent.

R&B music singer Rudy Mockabee, a Rocket City resident for decades, died May 22. At the time of this posting, information regarding cause of death and Mr. Mockabee's age was not available.

Mockabee was born in Cowpens, S.C., getting his musical career in an ensemble called The Yakity Yaks, which recorded sides such as "Soul Night" for imprints including Washington Sound.

In the late-60s after reportedly seeing Mockabee perform in a South Carolina motel, The Drifters asked him to join the doo-wop/R&B group, known for such hits as "This Magic Moment," "Save The Last Dance For Me," "I Count The Tears" and "Some Kind Of Wonderful." Mockabee cut The Drifters' 1970 Atlantic Records single "You Got To Pay Your Dues" (with the B-side "Black Silk") with that combo.

Mockabee also recorded as a solo artist for Atco Records, including the singles "Sweet Thing," backed by his cover of Roy Lee John's "Cheer Up (Daddy's Coming Home)", a take on the Jerry Berns/ Bert Ragavoy tune made famous by Janis Joplin "Piece Of My Heart," with a version of Otis Redding's "Think About It" as the B-side.

During his career, Mockabee opened for artists including Redding and James Brown.

The many Huntsville venues Mockabee played during his Rocket City years included the Rodeway Inn, Sheraton, Hilton, Port of Madison and LeeAnn's.

Around 1990, Mockabee began a 17-year run in which he played Hoppers Bar & Grill at least four nights a week. According to the WAFF report, the Rudy Mockabee Band had been scheduled to play Hoppers on Wednesday, May 22, prior to the singer's passing on Tuesday night.

Story has been updated to include date of death.

Below is a YouTube clip for Rudy Mockabee's single "Cheer Up (Daddy's Coming Home)":