"[43] Musician and music journalist Questlove referred to Withers' post-breakup 1974 album +'Justments as "a diary [...] [it] was a pre-reality-show look at his life. Withers’ family confirmed his death in the following statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. "[6] The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson deemed him "a songwriter's songwriter". [6] The couple made headlines following reports of domestic violence. He is survived by his wife, Marcia, and children, Todd and Kori. Stream Bill Withers' best songs via Spotify or Apple Music. Todd. They had one child. for many years. Photo Credit: Jim Minchin. Kori. Bill Withers died on March 30, 2020, aged 81, in Los Angeles, California. He was 81. Bill Withers died on March 30, 2020, aged 81, in Los Angeles, California. Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Bill was the youngest of six children of William Harrison Withers Sr, a coal miner, and his wife, Mattie. The album features Stephen Stills playing lead guitar. Bill Withers, former soul singer behind hits Ain’t No Sunshine and Lean On Me died on March 30, 2020, from heart complications aged 81. Withers, the youngest of six children, was born in the small coal-mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, on July 4, 1938. [37] Musicians Sade,[44] D'Angelo,[45] Justin Timberlake,[46] John Legend[47] and Ed Sheeran[5] have credited Withers as a music inspiration. Johnson Is In Charge of Licensing Her Husband’s Music. Bill Withers Dead. Due to a legal dispute with the Sussex company, Withers was unable to record for some time thereafter. Bertha was born on July 1 1904, in West Virginia, USA. Bill Withers - Family Table Lyrics. [21] Withers next released "Soul Shadows" with the Crusaders, and "In the Name of Love" with Ralph MacDonald,[22] the latter being nominated for a Grammy for vocal performance. Husband of … He thanked his wife as well as the R&B pioneers who helped his career like Ray Jackson, Al Bell and Booker T Jones. Lean On Me, a paean to friendship, was performed at the inaugurations of former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. [19], Due to problems with Columbia and being unable to get songs approved for his album, he concentrated on joint projects from 1977 to 1985, including "Just the Two of Us", with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., which was released during June 1980. [34][35], In February 2017, he made an appearance on Joy Reid's MSNBC show to talk about the refugee crisis as well as the political climate in America. US singer Bill Withers, whose hits include Lean on Me, Lovely Day and Ain’t No Sunshine, has died from heart complications. "Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen." Your voice, songs, and total expression gave us love, hope, and strength. He was gracious enough to let me sample him on ‘demons’. Discover the enduring artistry of Albums & Compilations of Bill Withers, an authentic American musical icon. Marcia born as Marcia Johnson has not yet revealed her age. it's god's will and we must comply by: charles g. turner, sr. Denise Nicholas (1973-1974). Stream Bill Withers' best songs via Spotify or Apple Music. After his parents divorced when he was 3, Withers was raised by his mother’s family in nearby Beckley. Siblings: No. He joined the Navy at 17 and spent nine years in the service as an aircraft mechanic installing toilets. Family: Parents: Father: William Harrison Withers Sr. School : Local high school. This is according to his family. At 18 years old, he joined United States Navy where he got his Naval trained. [1] He had several hits over a relatively short career of 15 years, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), "Use Me" (1972), "Lean on Me" (1972), "Lovely Day" (1977), and "Just the Two of Us" (1981). PRS for Music Special International Award. On 4 July 1938, William Withers Jr. was born in Slab Fork, the United States in West Virginia. He described the honor as "an award of attrition" and said: "What few songs I wrote during my brief career, there ain't a genre that somebody didn't record them in. Arranged by Mort Garson, the song went unnoticed at the time but was later reworked by Withers as the track "Harlem". [28], At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988, Withers won the Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song as songwriter for the re-recording of "Lean on Me" by Club Nouveau. He was the youngest of six children of Mattie (Galloway), a maid, and William Withers, a miner. Other footage of his performance is included in the 2008 documentary film Soul Power. news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site. Bill Withers Death. It read: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. The son of a West Virginia coal miner, William Harrison Withers, Jr. was born July 4, 1938. Withers was also previously married to actress Denise Nicholas before they divorced and he proceeded to marry Marcia. He was 81 years old. 2. US singer-songwriter Bill Withers, whose hits included "Lean On Me", has died aged 81, his family said.. Making Music was released in 1975 and is Withers' first album on Columbia Records due to Sussex Records folding in July 1975. Withers won three Grammy Awards and was nominated for six more. [8] In April 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Stevie Wonder. Picture: Fin Costello/RedfernsSource:Getty Images, His hits have been hailed as some of the greatest songs of all time. It had the hits Grandma’s Hands and Ain’t No Sunshine, which was inspired by the Jack Lemmon film Days of Wine and Roses. Family revealed in a statement to the historic Rumble in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood... 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