Bill Withers is back — that is, his music
By Ann Hornaday
Los Angeles Times | June 15, 2009
In 1985, the great R&B singer Bill Withers made his last record, leaving fans hungry for more of the sinuous grooves, poignant lyrics and smooth voice that made his songs so instantly recognizable. For the last 30 years, Withers has lived a life of contented domesticity with his wife, Marcia, and children Todd and Kori.
But despite his best efforts to leave fame behind, suddenly he’s everywhere, with his sultry ballad “Use Me” promoting the HBO series “Hung” and two films coming out: “Still Bill,” a documentary on Withers’ life and career, and “Soul Power,” about the concert that preceded the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman boxing match in Zaire in 1974. (The latter film will be shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Sunday.)
Bill Withers, you’re having a moment. It seems like wherever you go, one of your songs is playing.
I don’t know. Marcia deals with all that stuff in the office, so she’s probably more aware of that than I am. So I’ll take your word for it.
