last time i saw him on tv about 3 years ago and he looked like he was going to die singing. being over weight does not make you die but when the rest of you is in bad shape it does not help. so 74 being in bad health he did live a long life.
he said after he sings he would lose 25 to 30 pounds and if he did that a lot just that is not good for anyone. most of us takes months to lose that much not just in one night. he had a bad heart and many other things bad with him so he known death was coming soon anyways.