“I'm not a virtuoso, but I was able to write songs that people could identify with. I don't think I've done bad for a guy from Slab Fork, West Virginia,” Bill Withers told Rolling Stone in 2015, while speaking on his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The three-time Grammy Award winner, who wrote and sang a string of soulful songs in the 1970s that have stood the test of time, including "Ain't No Sunshine", "Just The Two Of Us", and "Lovely Day", has died from heart ailment, his family said in a statement to AP news on April 3rd. He was 81.
Withers’ songs relied on powerful melodies and solid grooves melded with a smooth voice. He conveyed honesty and complex emotions without vocal acrobatics. “Lean On Me”, a paean to friendship, was performed at the inaugurations of both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The song, along with “Ain’t No Sunshine”, are among Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
His death came at a time when the public has drawn inspiration from his music, with healthcare workers, artists, and others posting renditions of "Lean On Me" during the coronavirus pandemic.
The family statement reads, “In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones.”
#SwipeLeft for ‘Bostonians leaning out of windows and cars to sing his song together’, and more.
Pictures via Getty Images
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