Charles Bradley channeled the struggles of his life into soulful music. At an age when many musicians consider retiring, Bradley was just getting started.

“Always a fighter, Charles battled cancer with everything he had,” his management said in the announcement of his death on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017.

Bradley was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2016, but made a recovery and was touring before the cancer returned. This time it had metastasized to his liver. He was 68.