Bill Withers
Advertisement
Advertisement
Top Related Artists
Biography
Born on July 4th, 1938 in a small mining community in West Virginia, Bill Withers started writing songs and singing during a nine year stint serving in the United States Navy. When he left in 1965, he moved to Los Angeles to launch his music career, working in a factory making toilet seats for 747 aeroplanes by day, singing in clubs and recording demos by night. He was eventually signed by Sussex Records, releasing his first album, Just As I Am, in 1971 with Booker T. Jones as producer and Stephen Stills playing guitar. The track that ensured its success, though, was âAin't No Sunshineâ, a song he was inspired to write after watching Days of Wine and Roses, a movie about two alcoholics. Originally released as a B-side to the single âHarlemâ, âAin't No Sunshineâ ultimately went to number three in the Billboard Hot 100 and is now recognised as a classic. Withers had a number one with âLean On Meâ from his next album, Still Bill, and the infectious melodies of his songs have proved timeless; they have been covered extensively and used in many movie soundtracks. His biggest UK hit was the feel-good âLovely Dayâ, reaching number seven in 1977 and number four when re-released eleven years later. Withers died in LA of a heart condition on March 30th, 2020 at 81 years of age, leaving behind a plethora of accolades including three GRAMMY Awards and an homage in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Read All
Read Less
Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Lovely Day
- Ain't No Sunshine
- Lean on Me
- Use Me
- Just the Two of Us by Bill Withers
- Let It Be
- Grandma's Hands
- Hello Like Before
- I Can't Write Left Handed
- Kissing My Love
- Soul Shadows by Bill Withers
- I Want to Spend the Night
- You Got The Stuff
- Heart In Your Life
- Hoopla/Harlem featuring Bill Withers
- Moanin' And Groanin'
- Do It Good
- Everybody's Talkin'
- Friend of Mine
- The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
- You
- Lonely Town, Lonely Street
- I Don't Know
- You Try To Find A Love
