Soul Man Nathaniel Mayer Dies After Stroke Battle

Date: 11/05/08 | By Njai Joszor
Filed under: R&B News, Nathaniel Mayer

Detroit soul singer Nathaniel Mayer, who embarked on an unlikely comeback four years ago with the help of some young punk musicians, has died from complications following a series of strokes, his representatives said on Tuesday. He was 64.

Mayer died on Saturday in Detroit, according to a blog posting on his MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/nathanielmayer). Funeral arrangements are pending.

Mayer suffered a stroke in April, and his representatives said at the time that doctors were hopeful he could make a considerable recovery. But the announcement of his death said that he suffered many months of complications and illnesses.

Mayer, a devotee of James Brown, enjoyed a minor hit single in 1962 with "Village of Love." But he largely abandoned the recording business until 2004, when he made the album "I Just Want To Be Held" for Fat Possum Records, the boutique Mississippi label famed for its raw sound and salty bluesmen. He released a follow-up in August 2005, "Why Don't You Give It To Me?" (Alive Records), helped by a crew of young punk and soul revivalists, including Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman/AP)