The Womack Sisters, daughters of Cecil and Linda Womack, niece of Bobby Womack, and granddaughters of Sam Cooke, are forging their own path in soul music. After years of driving Ubers and being told that soul was dead, they have released a debut album that stays true to their roots.
A Musical Family Legacy
Their father, Cecil Womack, wrote classics like Teddy Pendergrass's "Love TKO" and hits for the O'Jays, the Four Tops, and Patti LaBelle. Their mother, Linda, is the daughter of Sam Cooke. Their uncle, Bobby Womack, was a renowned soul singer. The sisters grew up immersed in music, traveling the world with their parents and appearing on stage and in studios from a young age.
Despite their heritage, they initially sought other careers. They moved to Los Angeles, ran a cleaning company, and even drove for Uber. "Uber was a lifesaver! I swear, without it I would have been turning tricks," BG laughs.
Facing Industry Resistance
The music industry pushed them toward pop and R&B, telling them that soul wasn't viable for Black artists. "They told our manager that, and he didn't want to tell us, he was so embarrassed. Eventually, we just put our foot down and said, 'We're not doing anything else.' Couldn't get anyone to invest in what we were doing, so we funded our own thing," BG explains.
Their persistence paid off when Daptone Records, known for artists like Sharon Jones and Jalen Ngonda, took notice. "An instant connection! We just hung out and listened to music for a year before we actually recorded anything," BG says.
Debut Album and Emotional Depth
Their debut album, The Womack Sisters, is deeply rooted in soul tradition but feels raw and contemporary. "We crafted it from our hearts," says Zeimani, reflecting on personal losses, including the deaths of her father, uncle, and husband.
The sisters are not intimidated by their family's legacy. "We're proud of them, but they exist in their own right," Zeimani says. "They always told us: you're not us and you don't have to be. You're you, and there'll never be anyone like you. We took that seriously."
The album is released on August 14 via Daptone.
