Singer D.J. Rogers, best known for his 1975 track “Say You Love Me,” died Saturday at 72.
A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Born DeWayne Julius Rogers in Los Angeles, he released his self-titled debut album in 1973 and followed with seven more by 1982.
“Say You Love Me,” from his sophomore album It’s Good to Be Alive, made the Billboard Hot 100 and was covered by Natalie Cole in 1999.
Another track on the album, “Faithful to the End,” was sampled on songs by Faith Evans and Common in 2001 and 2005 respectively.
Rogers moved into gospel music in the ‘90s.
“I write songs that get people from Monday to Tuesday,” he explained in a message on the back cover of his album The Message Is Still The Same. “Because I feel that the struggle is not getting from year to year, or month to month, the real struggle is often getting from day to day.”
Among those paying tribute to Rogers on social media are Siedah Garrett, Kurt Carr, Hezekiah Walker and Canada’s Deborah Cox.