West Virginia native singer-songwriter Bill Withers died Monday, March 30, in Los Angeles from complications related to heart disease.
Known for such songs as “Lean on Me,” “Just the Two of Us,” and “Lovely Day,” Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia on July 4, 1938, and spent much of his young life in Beckley. Withers received an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University in 2017.
“Though my time with Dr. Withers was brief, it was amazing how he remained a West Virginian whose music reflected a sincere soulful voice,” said Keith Jackson, Dean of WVU’s College of Creative Arts. “Bill Withers is a voice that is as relevant now as in the 70s. I know his music will always be part of our American soundtrack.”
Withers served in the United States Navy before he went to work in several manufacturing facilities in the Los Angeles area. At 33, Withers—who had been singing for his friends since his Navy days—began writing songs about his experiences and trying to develop a career as a recording artist.
His 1971 debut album, produced by soul legend Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & The MGs fame, broke into the Top 40 of the Billboard album charts and generated two singles, “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands,” that reached the Top 50 of the Billboard “Hot 100” singles chart, launching more than a decade of chart and critical success.
Across nine albums, Withers explored humanity’s fundamental questions in plainspoken language and memorable melodies, crafting a catalog of songs that has served as a rich pool of inspiration for such successful contemporary musicians as John Legend, the Roots, Kanye West, and Maroon 5, each of whom has either sampled or covered his music.
Unlike many musicians of his generation, whose short-lived careers led to a life of obscurity after the spotlights dimmed, Withers has enjoyed continued critical success as reissue projects and tribute concerts have brought his music to new audiences. And, perhaps most importantly, Withers has been honored as one of the leading figures in popular music both in West Virginia and globally through his induction into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Marcia, and two children, Todd and Kori.