Bobby Willis Cause of Death: What Did Cilla’s Husband Die of?

On October 23, 1999, aged 57, Bobby Willis died of lung and liver cancer at the Royal Free Hospital in London. His funeral service was held on November 1 at Saint Mary the Virgin Church in Denham, Buckinghamshire.

He was cremated.

Willis’s first known recorded composition, “Shy of Love” was featured on the B-side of “Love of the Loved”, the debut release of Cilla Black in September 1963. During the 60s he was to write many songs for his then-girlfriend to record and perform.

After the death of Black’s manager, Brian Epstein, Willis took over her management duties and over the next 30 years, developed her popularity with television family audiences, and helped Black to become the highest-paid female presenter on television.