The profound honesty and sensitivity found in his timeless music has made Bill Withers one of America’s premier singer/songwriters. Combining soulful warmth, a genuine and folksy feel with his immediately recognizable voice, Withers has sung his way into the hearts of millions worldwide. His ability to say what so many feel is uncanny.
Simple yet sophisticated, Withers’ music and lyrics have phenomenal accessibility and universal appeal. This, says Withers, comes from his own duality – he enjoyed a rural childhood and blossomed as an adult in an urban-international environment.
Born in the small coal-mining town of Slabfork, West Virginia and raised in nearby Beckley,
Bill Withers was just 13 when his father, a coal miner, died.
After a nine-year stint in the Navy, Bill appeared on the Los Angeles music scene in 1967.
For 3 years, he worked full-time and recorded demos but not one record company or publisher expressed any interest. In early 1970, his music landed on the desk of Clarence Avant of Sussex Records who introduced Withers to Booker T. Jones of the
M.G.’s.
When Sussex signed him and released his debut album, Just As I Am,
in 1971, with such memorable hits as "Ain't No Sunshine" and
"Grandma's Hands". Withers was awarded his first Grammy award as a songwriter for
the former in 1971. Withers found himself touring extensively with his new band, which included drummer James Gadson, guitarist Bernoce Blackmon, keyboardist Ray Jackson, and bassist Melvin Dunlap Bill, both in the United States and abroad.
During a short break in touring, Withers recorded his second album, Still
Bill, with those fantastic classics “Lean On Me” and
“Use Me”. “Lean On Me” went to number one the week of July 8, 1972.
On a rainy night in early 1973, Withers performed at Carnegie Hall, which he remembers as “one of the most exciting times of my life.” Producer and performer of this house-rocking treasure, BILL WITHERS LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL included the Vietnam War commentary
“I Can’t Write Left Handed” and the warm
“Friend of Mine”. In 1974, +justments contained the unforgettable
“The Same Love That Made Me Laugh” that Withers had actually
written in 1968. An unfortunate legal dispute with the Sussex label resulting in Bill being unable to record after
+JUSTMENTS. He did however go on to write and produce two songs on the Gladys Knight & the Pips record
I Feel A Song.
In 1974, Bill Withers performed in concert along with James Brown, Etta James, and BB King as part of the historical Ali/Forman fight in Zaire. His performance was captured on the soundtrack of the movie
“When We Were Kings”, a recently released documentary on the fight.
Parting ways with Sussex Records, Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975. His debut for the label
Making Music, Making Friends featured the popular “Make Love To Your
Mind” and the brilliant “Hello Like Before” covered by many jazz
artists. “She’s Lonely” graced the “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” motion picture and soundtrack. Three
more albums with Columbia followed from 1976 through 1978.
He recorded the still-vibrant “Just the Two of Us” with Grover Washington, Jr. and
“Soul Shadows” with the Crusaders. Withers was nominated for four Grammies for "Just The Two of Us" in 1981 and won the songwriting Grammy for it. He continued
with several other joint projects, and in 1987, Withers received his ninth Grammy nomination and third Grammy as a songwriter for the re-recording of the 1972 hit
"Lean On Me" by Club Nouveau. "Lean On Me" was re-recorded and performed at the 1992 Presidential Inauguration festivities by Michael Bolton.
As evidence of their undeniable appeal, Withers’ songs have been recorded by hundreds of artists including Barbra
Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Mathis, Mick Jagger, Crystal Gale, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McCrae, and Diana Ross, just to name a few.
Artists who have recorded music written by Withers cover nearly every genre: pop, jazz country and western, classical, rhythm and blues, gospel, and hip hop. Barbra Streisand and Etta James recorded “Grandma’s Hands”. Artists from Anita Bryant and Johnny Mathis to Club Nouveau have recorded “Lean On Me.” “Ain’t No Sunshine” has been done by Boney James, Lionel Hampton, Grover Washington, Jr., Michael Bolton, Sting and The Temptations among others. Gospel groups such as Out of Eden and Kirk Franklin, rapper Will Smith, Dance Music Group SOUL SYSTEM (on the BodyGuard Soundtrack) have recorded “Lovely Day.” Crooner Aaron Nevil to rapper Snow recorded “Use Me.”
Even today, it’s difficult not to turn on the TV or go to the movies and not hear music by Withers. His music and unique voice have been used in countless television and radio commercials, motion pictures, and on television programs. His music has been sampled and covered by many hip hop and rap artists of today, most notably by BlackStreet in the composition "No Diggity” and Will Smith’s version of “Just The Two Of Us” which was also featured in “Austin Powers – The Spy that Shagged Me” motion picture.
Most recently, Withers recorded a duet with singer Jimmy Buffett, "Playin the Loser
Again", which appeared on Buffett's July 2004 release, License to
Chill.
BILL
WITHERS
