Legendary R&B singer / songwriter Gene McDaniels, who churned out scores of hit songs for himself and others in the 60s and 70s, died last week at his home in Kittery Point, Maine at the age of 76.  McDaniels was best known for writing the 1974 Roberta Flack hit, "Feel Like Makin' Love," as well as hit own hit singles, "Tower of Strength" and "A Hundred Pounds of Clay."  The proloific songwriter also penned hit singles for Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis and Aretha Franklin.

"Gene is music: lyrical, complex, joyful, perceptive, political, romantic, multifaceted, melodious and magnificent," read a statement on McDaniels' website.  "He is a man of great passion, countless musical personalities, an activist and a spiritualist, a patriot and a rebel, the singer and the song."

Sources close to McDaniels say he continued working almost to the end and had booked shows as recently as July 20th.  The nature of the illness that took his life has not been disclosed.  McDaniels was born in Kansas on February 12th, 1935.  He is survived by his wife, Karen Thompson McDaniels, six children and nine grandchildren.