Bill Withers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Withers
Withers in 1976
Background information
Birth name	William Harrison Withers Jr.
Born	(1938-07-04)July 4, 1938 Slab Fork, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	March 30, 2020(2020-03-30) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician record producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards
Years active	1967–1985 2004
Labels	Sussex Columbia

William Harrison Withers Jr. (born July 4, 1938 – died March 30, 2020), known as Bill Withers, was an amazing American singer and songwriter. He created soul and R&B songs that touched many hearts. Bill Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia and grew up in Beckley, West Virginia.

He became famous for many hit songs during his 18-year career. Some of his most well-known tunes include "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), "Use Me" (1972), and "Lean on Me" (1972). Later hits were "Lovely Day" (1977) and "Just the Two of Us" (1980), which he sang with Grover Washington Jr..

Bill Withers won three Grammy Awards for his incredible music. His life story was even told in a 2009 documentary film called Still Bill. He was honored in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, and the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2025. Two of his classic songs, "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me", are also in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Childhood

William Harrison Withers Jr. was born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia. This was a small town where many people worked in coal mining. He was the youngest of six children. His mother, Mattie, worked as a maid, and his father, William, was a miner.

As a child, Bill had a stutter, which sometimes made it hard for him to feel like he belonged. His parents separated when he was three years old. After that, he was raised by his mother's family in Beckley, West Virginia. A special statue honoring him was revealed in Beckley in 2025. Bill was 13 years old when his father passed away.

Bill Withers' Music Journey

Starting His Career

When Bill Withers was 17, he joined the United States Navy. He served for nine years. During this time, he discovered his love for singing and writing songs. After leaving the Navy in 1965, he moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to chase his dream of becoming a musician.

His very first song, "Three Nights and a Morning," came out in 1967. It didn't become a hit then, but Bill later changed it into another song called "Harlem." While trying to make it in music, Bill worked regular jobs. He was a mechanical assembler for companies like Douglas Aircraft Corporation, IBM, and Ford. He used his own money to record demo songs and performed in clubs at night.

Even after his song "Ain't No Sunshine" became a big hit in 1971, he didn't quit his day job right away. He thought the music business could be unpredictable. He kept working on his skills, especially learning to play the guitar better.

Success with Sussex Records

Withers in a 1971 ad for Just as I Am

In 1970, a record company owner named Clarence Avant heard Bill's demo tape and liked it. Bill signed a deal with Sussex Records. Booker T. Jones, a famous producer, helped Bill create his first album. This album, called Just as I Am, came out in 1971.

It included the hit songs "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands". The album cover even showed Bill at his old job, holding his lunch box! In October 1971, something amazing happened. Bill received two letters on the same day. One was an offer to get his old mechanic job back. The other was an invitation to sing "Ain't No Sunshine" on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show!

The album was a big success. Bill started touring and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for "Ain't No Sunshine" in 1972. This song sold over a million copies!

Bill then recorded his second album, Still Bill. The song "Lean on Me" became a number one hit in July 1972. It was Bill's second song to sell millions of copies. His next song, "Use Me", also sold over a million copies. In 1972, Bill performed at Carnegie Hall, and this concert was released as a live album.

In 1974, Bill recorded another album called +'Justments. He also wrote songs for other artists, like Gladys Knight & the Pips. That same year, he performed in Zaire with other music legends like James Brown and B.B. King. This concert happened before a famous boxing match and was shown in documentaries like When We Were Kings.

Bill later had disagreements with Sussex Records. He felt he wasn't being paid fairly. Because of these problems, he couldn't record new music for a while.

Moving to Columbia Records

In 1975, Bill Withers signed with Columbia Records. His first album with them was Making Music. Over the next few years, he released more albums, including Menagerie (1977). The Menagerie album included the very popular song "Lovely Day".

Bill also worked on special projects with other artists. One famous collaboration was "Just the Two of Us" with Grover Washington Jr. in 1981. This song also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. He also sang "Soul Shadows" with the Crusaders and "In the Name of Love" with Ralph MacDonald.

His last studio album, Watching You, Watching Me, came out in 1985. It featured the hit R&B song "Oh, Yeah!". Bill often felt frustrated with the people at Columbia Records. He said they tried to control his music too much and wouldn't let him release songs he wanted to. He even mentioned that some songs they rejected earlier were later approved for his final album.

Because of these disagreements, Bill Withers decided to stop recording new music and left the music industry after 1985. He found success later in life, starting his music career at 32. He felt he was a "regular guy" who had a life before music. He later said he didn't miss touring or performing and didn't regret leaving the music business.

Later Recognition and Legacy

Even after he stopped making new music, Bill Withers' songs remained popular. In 1988, a new version of "Lovely Day" became a hit in the UK. At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988, Bill won another Grammy. This was for writing the song "Lean on Me" when Club Nouveau recorded their own version.

Withers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015

Bill Withers received many honors for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. In April 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Stevie Wonder. He felt proud, saying he did well for "a guy from Slab Fork, West Virginia." Later that year, a special concert was held at Carnegie Hall to celebrate his music. Many famous artists performed his songs.

The 2009 documentary film, "Still Bill", explored why he left the music industry. It showed him as a happy person who was content with his decision.

Bill Withers' Lasting Impact

Vinyl copy of "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers

Bill Withers was known for his smooth voice and beautiful soul arrangements. He wrote some of the most loved songs of the 1970s, like "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine." "Lean on Me" became so popular that different artists recorded it and it reached number one on the charts multiple times. With "Lovely Day", he set a record for holding a musical note for 18 seconds in an American hit song!

Many people consider Bill Withers' songs to be among the best in American music. "Ain't No Sunshine" is a classic breakup song, and "Lean on Me" is a wonderful song about friendship and support. He brought deep feelings and sometimes hidden worries into his gentle songs. He explored different music styles like gospel, funk, and disco.

Music experts and artists agree that his songs are a big part of our culture. They have been covered and sampled by countless musicians. The New York Times called him "a soulful singer with a gift for writing understated classics." Billboard magazine recognized him as one of R&B/soul music's most respected singer-songwriters.

Famous musicians like Sade, D'Angelo, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, and Ed Sheeran have said Bill Withers inspired their music. His songs have also been widely used by hip hop and pop music artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Tupac Shakur, and Jennifer Lopez.

In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Bill Withers among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2024, his song "Ain't No Sunshine" was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which preserves important sound recordings. In 2025, he was inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Withers with his daughter Kori at a 2008 tribute concert

Bill Withers married actress Denise Nicholas in 1973. They later divorced in 1974.

In 1976, Bill married Marcia Johnson. They had two children, Todd and Kori. Marcia later helped manage his music companies, and his children also became involved as they grew up.

Bill Withers passed away from heart problems in a Los Angeles hospital on March 30, 2020. He was 81 years old. His family shared a statement saying he was a loving husband and father. They said his music connected people and would forever belong to the world. He was cremated, and his ashes were placed in an unmarked grave.

Discography

Studio albums

• Just as I Am (1971)
• Still Bill (1972)
• +'Justments (1974)
• Making Music (1975)
• Naked & Warm (1976)
• Menagerie (1977)
• 'Bout Love (1978)
• Watching You, Watching Me (1985)

Live albums

• Live at Carnegie Hall (1973)

Compilation albums

• The Best of Bill Withers (1975)
• The Best of Bill Withers (1980)
• Bill Withers' Greatest Hits (1981)
• Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers (1994)
• The Best of Bill Withers: Lean on Me (2000)
• The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection (2000)
• Lovely Day: The Very Best of Bill Withers (2005)
• Ain't No Sunshine: The Best of Bill Withers (2008)
• Playlist: The Very Best of Bill Withers (2009)
• The Essential Bill Withers (2013)

Accolades

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are given out by The Recording Academy. Bill Withers won three Grammys from nine nominations.

Honors

• 2005: Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
• 2006: ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage award
• 2007: Inducted into West Virginia Music Hall of Fame
• 2015: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• 2017: Honorary degree from West Virginia University
• 2025: Inducted into National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Bill Withers para niños