Legendary R&B singer PERCY SLEDGE was forced to ditch a planned three-week tour of England in order to undergo surgery for liver cancer.
The beloved 73-year-old entertainer – whose soulful 1966 ballad, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” remains a classic to this day – went under the knife on Jan. 22 at a hospital in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La. Doctors removed a cancerous polyp from his liver.
Percy’s manager, Mark Lyman, told The ENQUIRER that the singer was slated to leave on Feb. 8 to perform for the Legends of Soul tour in England but canceled after doctors advised him to stay home, rest and recuperate.
Fans were shocked when tour promoter David Gest told the crowd at a Stockport, England, show: “Percy won’t be with us tonight, I’m afraid. He’s in the hospital with liver cancer. I know we are all going to pray for him.”
But Lyman insists Percy is doing well and not in imminent danger.
“He’s not dying,” Lyman assured. “In fact, he’s going to Jamaica for a concert next week.
“It wasn’t a big deal. He was in and out of the hospital in two hours and has been at home ever since.”
Percy’s daughter Latonia confirmed to The ENQUIRER that her father is doing OK.
Percy does seem to live his greatest hit – he’s been married to his wife, Rose, for 34 years and has 12 kids and more than 15 grandkids. Along with “When a Man Loves a Woman,” he’s also known for “It Tears Me Up” and “Take Time To Know Her.”
Lyman says the gutsy singer has nine concerts scheduled between March and October – and he plans to make ALL of them.
