Soul music purists can make the point that Bobby Womack's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year was more than overdue.

In addition to staples "If You Think You're Lonely Now," "Harry Hippie" and "Where Do We Go From Here," Womack is known for influential work with the Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke and others.

Was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame late jumping on board?

"There are a lot of black artists who are overdue, and some of them will never be recognized," Womack says. "But it's a big deal. When I started performing, they didn't have a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

The honor didn't quite sink in for Womack until he walked across the stage to receive his award, and chills came over him.

"I said to myself, 'Don't you dare get emotional up there.' My mother was there and I hadn't seen her in a while, and my brothers were there. I thought about Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and the people I worked with who weren't here anymore," says Womack.

After the ceremony, Womack accepted an invitation to work with the Gorillaz.

"I'd never heard of them, but they wanted to do something with me," he says. "I thought I needed a challenge."

The Roll and Roll Hall of Fame isn't the only place where he's being recognized.

R&B singer Calvin Richardson has a new CD called "Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack," on which he tackles Womack songs such as "You're Welcome, Stop on By," "Woman's Got to Have It" and "Love Has Finally Come at Last."

Womack has never met Richardson. Still, he says, "I love him. A lot of people have done my material over the years, but what I like about Calvin is he was in the driver's seat."

Womack says he believes Richardson and other newer artists are keeping R&B music strong, though some have given it a hip-hop feel. The music and lyrics that the gruff-voiced Womack have been performing since hitting the scene in the '60s will never go out of style, he says.

"It still speaks for itself," Womack says. "The songs have a spiritual feeling you can't take away. There's bad times now, but people are still coming to see me perform. I give my best."

Womack has a live album ready to be released called "Raw," on which he talks about how his different songs came about. The album has been awaiting release for a decade.

"It turned out really great, and I learned a lot about myself," he says. "I got a chance to see me, and that has never happened."