A commentary by Jody Rosen in the LA Times recently suggested a change to the National Anthem: A Bill Wither’s Classic, “Lean On Me” We share this as it’s such a kind thought. Bill would truly be humbled by this. Read excerpts from the article below: The Francis Scott Key monument in San Francisco’s Golden […]
03
Apr
Apr
We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other. As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and […]
On January 26, 2014, at the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Bill Withers: The Complete Sussex & Columbia Albums Collection, a nine-disc set featuring Withers’s eight studio albums, as well as his live album Live at Carnegie Hall, received the “Best Historical” Grammy Award (in a tie with The Rolling Stones’ “Charlie Is My Darling […]
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Dec
Dec
After Sussex Records folded, Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975. His first album release with the label, Making Music, Making Friends, included the single “She’s Lonely”, which was featured in the film Looking for Mr. Goodbar. During the next three years he released an album each year with Naked & Warm (1976), Menagerie (1977, containing the successful “Lovely Day”), “Bout Love” (1978) […]
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Apr
Apr
R&B legend Bill Withers may be one of the more underappreciated songwriters of all-time. But Withers certainly got the legend treatment during the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction when an icon introduced him. When Withers hit the stage, he quickly proved himself to be the night’s most charismatic speaker. Read the full […]
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Apr
Apr
Though he hasn’t properly performed in years, Bill Withers proved he’d lost none of his performing chops with the most memorable speech of the night, maybe one of the greatest in Hall of Fame history, packed with classic one-liners and personal reflection. Read the full story
Miguel + Keith Urban Team Up for “Ain’t No Sunshine” at 2014 Grammy Nominations Concert Read more
Anthony Hamilton pays homage to Bill Withers (“Lovely Day”) as part of a spirited medley paying tribute to soul artists from the past Read full story
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Nov
Nov
It didn’t hurt that Bill Withers had musicians playing on his album that read like a who’s who throughout his career: Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & The MG’s); Stephen Stills (Crosby, Stills, & Nash); James Gadson, Ray Jackson, Melvin Dunlap, and Benorce Blackmon (The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band); Dorothy Ashby; Keni Burke; Ralph […]
03
Jan
Jan
In 1972, a year after the release of his first album, “Just As I Am,” Bill Withers performed a song on British television. “Harlem,” the record’s first single, had done little on the charts, but radio d.j.s had picked up on its B-side. Wearing a ribbed orange turtleneck and sweating visibly, the thirty-three-year-old rookie introduced the first song he had ever written…