The Holmes Brothers star passed away at his home on Friday from complications due to pulmonary hypertension, according to Billboard.
His illness forced the soul man to retire from touring earlier this year.
The Holmes Brothers released 12 studio albums between 1990 and 2014 and the group is still touring under the leadership of Wendell's sibling Sherman - as The Sherman Holmes Project.
The brothers' drummer, Willie 'Popsy' Dixon also died this year (15), after losing his battle with cancer in January this year.