In Memoriam
Bill Withers
July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020 · aged 81
Soul · R&B
William Harrison Withers Jr. was a reluctant superstar who crafted some of the most enduring, soulful, and universally loved songs in American history. Born in a coal-mining town in West Virginia in 1938, Withers was already in his 30s and working at a factory building airplane toilets when he released his 1971 debut album. His music was stripped-down, acoustic-driven, and incredibly honest, marked by a warm, conversational baritone. With an unparalleled gift for expressing profound emotion through simple, direct language, he penned absolute masterpieces like 'Ain't No Sunshine,' 'Lean on Me,' and 'Lovely Day.' Disgusted by the interference and politics of record company executives, Withers did something almost unheard of in the music industry: in the mid-1980s, at the height of his legacy, he simply walked away and never recorded another album. He lived a quiet, private life until his death from heart complications on March 30, 2020, at the age of 81.
Milestones
Ain't No Sunshine, Lean on Me, Lovely Day
Also remembered in 2020
- Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020)
- Kenny Rogers (1938–2020)
- Little Richard (1932–2020)
- Neil Peart (1952–2020)