NEW YORK (January 2, 2012)--Bobby Womack, 68, has Alzheimer's disease.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member told the BBC in a recent interview the diagnosis came after he began having difficulty remembering his songs and the names of people he's worked with.

The soul singer cut a wide path through the music business as a performer and songwriter in his 50-year career and recently launched another act with "The Bravest Man in the Universe," the Damon Albarn-produced comeback album that recently made several best-of lists.

Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease characterized by memory loss, is the latest health problem for the singer, who's also been fighting cancer and other maladies.