Remembering Singer Bill Withers

Songwriter, Bill Withers, who was known for the timeless classics “Lean on Me”, “Lovely Day”, and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” died at the age of 81 on March 30, 2020, due to heart complications. His music has been used countless times to help boost morale during exact times like these, so it’s important to remember the legacy he left. Withers was a three-time Grammy Award winner who stopped making music around the mid-80s.

His songs have become (still to this day) popular soundtracks to play during the more important moments in life. His strong voice over bluesy melodies, soulful funk, and groovy beats evoke homely and warm emotions in all his listeners. “Lean on Me” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” hit the Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and “Lean on Me” was played at the inaugurations of former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers lived an incredibly eventful life for someone who became a legendary singer-songwriter. He joined the navy at 17 years old and worked as an aircraft mechanic for 9 years. After getting discharged, he moved to Los Angeles and was working at an aircraft parts factory when he bought a guitar and started recording demos towards getting a recording contract. By 1971, under the guidance of Booker T. Jones, Withers put out “Just as I Am”, his first album signed under Sussex Records. “Ain’t No Sunshine” was on this album, hitting no. 3 on Billboard charts and was in the top 40 for 16 weeks. A year later, he came out with the classic “Lean on Me” on his second album “Still Bill.”

Later came “Lovely Day”, co-written by Skip Scarborough, featuring Withers holding out the note on the word “day” for 19 seconds. His “Live at Carnegie Hall” album also hit the Rolling Stone’s 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time. In 2015, Stevie Wonder inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By that time, he had received a Grammy award for both ‘Ain’t No Sunshine” in 1971 and “Just the Two of Us” in 1981. His music was sampled in “No Diggity” by BlackStreet, “Bridging the Gap” by the Black Eyed Peas, and “Sunshine” by Twista. Rest in Peace Bill Withers. May your legacy continue to carry us through the most difficult times.

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