Contents. Early life Withers was born the youngest of six children in the small coal-mining town of.

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'Lean on Me' was also the title theme of a 1989 movie starring Morgan Freeman. Still Bill also included 'Use Me' (gold, number two R&B for two weeks and number two pop for two weeks in fall 1972). Withers' Sussex catalog also included Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall, 'Justments, and The Best of Bill Withers. 19 rows Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Lean.

He was born with a stutter and has said he had a hard time fitting in. Raised in nearby, he was thirteen years old when his father died.

Withers enlisted with the at the age of 18 and served for nine years, during which time he overcame his stutter and became interested in singing and writing songs. Withers left the Navy in 1965. Using the $250 he received from selling his furniture to IBM co-worker Ron Sierra, he picked up and relocated to Los Angeles in 1967 for a musical career. Withers worked as an assembler for several different companies, including, while recording with his own money, shopping them around and performing in at night.

When he debuted with the song ' he refused to resign from his job because of his belief that the music business was a fickle industry. Career Sussex records During early 1970, Withers' demonstration tape was auditioned favorably by, owner of. Avant signed Withers to a record deal and assigned former Stax Records stalwart to produce Withers' first album.

Four three-hour were planned for the album, but funding caused the album to be recorded in three sessions with a six-month break between the second and final sessions. Was released in 1971 with the tracks, 'Ain't No Sunshine' and ' as singles.

The album features playing lead guitar. On the cover of the album, Withers is pictured at his job at in, holding his lunch box.

The album was a success and Withers began touring with a band assembled from members of The: drummer, guitarist Benorce Blackmon, keyboardist Ray Jackson, and bassist Melvin Dunlap. At the 14th annual on Tuesday, March 14, 1972, Withers won a for '.' The track had already sold over one million copies and was awarded a by the in September 1971. During a hiatus from touring, Withers recorded his second album, Still Bill. The single, ' went to number one the week of July 8, 1972.

It was Withers' second gold single with confirmed sales in excess of three million. His follow-up, 'Use Me' released in August 1972, became his third million seller, with the R.I.A.A. Gold disc award taking place on October 12, 1972. His performance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, 1972, was recorded, and released as the live album Bill Withers, Live at Carnegie Hall on November 30, 1972.

In 1974, Withers recorded the album +'Justments. Due to a legal dispute with the Sussex company, Withers was unable to record for some time thereafter. During this time, he wrote and produced two songs on the record, and in October 1974 performed in concert together with, and in four weeks prior to the historic fight between and. Footage of his performance was included in the 1996 documentary film, and he is heard on the accompanying soundtrack.

Other footage of his performance is included in the 2008 documentary film which is based on archival footage of the 1974 Zaire concert. Columbia Records After Sussex Records folded, Withers signed with 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.

During the next three years he released an album each year with Naked & Warm (1976), (1977, containing the successful '), 'Bout Love' (1978) and 'Get on Down'; the latter song also included on the soundtrack. In 1976, Withers performed 'Ain't No Sunshine' on. 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 ', with saxophonist, which was released during June 1980. It won a Grammy on February 24, 1982. Withers next did 'Soul Shadows' with, and 'In the Name of Love' with, the latter being nominated for a Grammy for vocal performance. In 1982, Withers was a featured vocalist on the album, 'Dreams in Stone' by French singer.

This record included one composition co-written and sung by Withers, an upbeat disco song about New York City entitled 'Apple Pie.' The album was not released in North America, although it contains several songs about America. In 1985 came Watching You Watching Me, which featured the -rated single 'Oh Yeah', and ended Withers' business association with Columbia Records. Withers stated in interviews that a lot of the songs approved for the album, in particular, two of the first three singles released, were the same songs which were rejected in 1982, hence contributing significantly to the eight-year hiatus between albums. Withers also stated it was frustrating seeing his record label release an album for, an actor, when they were preventing him, an actual singer, from releasing his own. He toured with in 1985 to promote what would be his final studio album. His disdain for Columbia's A&R executives or 'blaxperts', as he termed them, trying to exert control over how he should sound if he wanted to sell more albums, played a part in his making the decision to not record or re-sign to a record label after 1985, effectively ending his performing career, even though remixes of his previously recorded music were released after his 'retirement'.

Finding musical success later in life than most, at 32, he has said he was socialized as a 'regular guy' who had a life before the music, so he did not feel an inherent need to keep recording once he fell out of love with the industry. He has also stated that he does not miss touring and performing live and does not regret leaving music behind. He seemingly no longer suffers from the of that affected him during his recording career.

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Post-Columbia career In 1988, a new version of 'Lovely Day' from the 1977 Menagerie album, entitled 'Lovely Day (Sunshine Mix)' and by, reached the in the United Kingdom, leading to Withers' performance on the long-running that year. The original release had reached #7 in the UK in early 1978, and the re-release climbed higher to #4.

In 1987, he received his ninth Grammy Award nomination and on March 2, 1988, his third Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song as songwriter for the re-recording of 'Lean on Me' by on their debut album Life, Love and Pain, released in 1986 on. In 1996, a portion of his song 'Grandma's Hands' was sampled in the song ' by BLACKstreet, featuring Dr. The single went to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold 1.6 million copies and won a Grammy in 1998 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Withers contributed two songs to 's 2004 release.

Following the reissues of Still Bill on January 28, 2003, and Just As I Am on March 8, 2005, there was speculation of previously unreleased material being issued as a new album. In 2006, Sony gave back to Withers his previously unreleased tapes. In 2007, 'Lean on Me' was inducted into the. 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, received the 'Best Historical' Grammy Award (in a tie with The Rolling Stones' 'Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965.' ) The award was presented to Leo Sacks, who produced the collection, and the mastering engineers Mark Wilder, Joseph M.

Palmaccio and Tom Ruff. On April 18, 2015, he was inducted into the. Withers was stunned when he learned he had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 'I see it as an award of attrition,' he says. 'What few songs I wrote during my brief career, there ain't a genre that somebody didn't record them in.

I'm not a virtuoso, but I was able to write songs that people could identify with. I don't think I've done bad for a guy from Slab Fork, West Virginia.' On October 1, 2015, there was a tribute concert at in his honor, featuring, and recreating his 1973 concert album, Live at Carnegie Hall, along with other Withers material. Withers was in attendance and spoke briefly onstage. On February 12, 2017, he made an appearance on MSNBC to talk about the refugee crisis, as well as the political climate in America. Personal life Withers married actress in 1973, during her stint on the sitcom.

The couple divorced the following year. In 1976, Withers married Marcia Johnson and they had two children, Todd and Kori. Marcia eventually assumed the direct management of his Beverly Hills-based publishing companies, in which his children also became involved as they became adults.

^ Hale, Mike (January 26, 2010). Greene, Andy (December 16, 2014). Retrieved December 16, 2014.

^ Ben Sisario, New York Times, September 18, 2015. ^ Greene, Andy (April 14, 2015). Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 26, 2015. July 8, 1972. Archived from on August 29, 2011.

Retrieved January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1974). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). P. 306 & 322.

July 8, 1972. Archived from on August 29, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.

(January 17, 1976). October 27, 1985. Retrieved August 26, 2015.

Retrieved August 26, 2015. Steffen Hung. Retrieved August 26, 2015. The Daily Telegraph. August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.

Retrieved August 26, 2015. February 7, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2015. The New Yorker.

March 8, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015. Mitchell, Gail (October 14, 2005). Smith, Troy L. (April 19, 2015). The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 1, 2015.

Ben Sisario, New York Times, August 3, 2015. Jon Pareles, New York Times, October 2, 2015. Jet, May 2, 1974, p. Elsworth, Catherine (October 8, 2006). The Telegraph. Retrieved July 2, 2009.

Retrieved January 19, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2011.

Retrieved January 19, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2009. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd., Turramurra, N.S.W. at.

The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Associated Press (June 2, 2006). '. Morris, Edward (November 12, 2007). Ben Sisario (December 16, 2014). The New York Times. External links.

Biography William Harrison “Bill” Withers, Jr. (born July 4, 1938) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are “Lean on Me”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Use Me”, “Just the Two of Us”, “Lovely Day”, and “Grandma’s Hands”. His life was recently the subject of the documentary film Still Bill. During early 1970, Withers’ demonstration tape was audited favorably by Clarence Avant of Sussex Records.

Avant signed Withers to a record deal and assigned Booker T. Jones to produce Withers’ first album. Four three-hour studio sessions were planned to record the album, but funding caused the album to be recorded in three sessions with a six-month break between the second and final sessions. Just as I Am was released in 1971 with the tracks “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands” as singles. The album features Stephen Stills playing lead guitar. The album was a success and Withers began touring with a band assembled from members of The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band: drummer James Gadson, guitarist Benorce Blackmon, keyboardist Ray Jackson, and bassist Melvin Dunlap.

At the 14th annual Grammy Awards on Tuesday, March 14, 1972, Withers won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The track had already sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. In September 1971. During a hiatus from touring, Withers recorded his second album, Still Bill. The single “Lean on Me” went to number one the week of July 8, 1972. It was Withers’ second gold disc awarded track with confirmed sales in excess of three million. His single “Use Me” released in August 1972, became his third million seller, with the R.I.A.A. Gold disc award taking place on October 12, 1972.

A Friday, October 6, 1972 performance on a rainy night was recorded for the live album Bill Withers, Live at Carnegie Hall released November 30, 1972. In 1974 Withers recorded the album +’Justments.

But he became involved in a legal dispute with the Sussex company and was unable to record thereafter. During this time, he wrote and produced two songs on the Gladys Knight & the Pips record I Feel a Song, and in October 1974 performed in concert together with James Brown, Etta James, and B. King at the historic Rumble in the Jungle fight between Foreman and Ali in Zaire. Footage of his performance was included in the 1996 documentary film, When We Were Kings, and he is heard on the accompanying soundtrack.

Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975. His first release with the label, Making Music, Making Friends, included the single “She’s Lonely” which was featured in the film Looking for Mr. During the next three years he released an album each year with Naked & Warm (1976), Menagerie (1977, containing the successful Lovely Day) and Bout Love (1978) and Get On Down, the latter song was also on Looking for Mr. Goodbar soundtrack. Due to problems with Columbia, he concentrated on joint projects between 1977 and 1985, including the successful “Just the Two of Us”, with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., which was released during June 1980. It won a Grammy on February 24, 1982.

Withers next did Soul Shadows with The Crusaders, and In the Name of Love with Ralph MacDonald, the latter being nominated for a Grammy for vocal performance. In 1985 came Watching You, Watching Me, which featured the Top 40 rated Rhythm&Blues single “Oh Yeah”. Withers ended his business association with Columbia Records after this release, which as of 2010 is his last studio album. In 1988, a new version of “Lovely Day” from the 1977 Menagerie album, titled “Lovely Day (Sunshine Mix)” and remixed by Ben Liebrand, reached the Top 10 in the United Kingdom, leading to Withers’ performance on the long-running Top of the Pops that year.

The original release had scored #2 in the UK in 1973, and the re-release scored to #1. In 1987, he received his ninth Grammy award nomination and on March 2, 1988 his third Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Song as songwriter for the re-recording of Lean On Me by Club Nouveau on their debut album Life, Love and Pain, released in 1986 on Warner Bros. In 1996, a portion of his song “Grandma’s Hands” was sampled in the song “No Diggity” by BLACKstreet, featuring Dr. The single went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold 1.6 million copies and won a Grammy in 1999 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Withers contributed two songs to Jimmy Buffett’s July 13, 2004 release License To Chill. Following the reissues of Still Bill on January 28, 2003 and Just As I Am on March 8, 2005, there was speculation of previously unreleased material being issued as a new album. In 2006, Sony gave back to Withers his previously unreleased tapes. In 2007, “Lean On Me” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Reviews European only release pressed on a Gold Disc and housed in a die-cut slipcase, exposing the gold CD. Bill Withers has written two bona fide classics (“Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me”), recorded a slew of memorable hits, and had songs covered by everyone from Joe Cocker to Isaac Hayes to Kiss. Still, he’s underappreciated.

His voice is smooth, his singing is subtle, and his songs move along over sinuous, sexy grooves. It’s all so effortless that it’s easy to overlook how substantial Withers’s work really is. Never flashy, his best songs burn with a heat that lingers long after the last note has been played. This slender 10-track collection brings together a few songs from his remarkable early-’70s Sussex albums, including such hits and near hits as “Grandma’s Hands,” “Who Is He? (And What Is He to You?),” and the seriously funky “Use Me,” as well as some gems from the later ’70s (including “Lovely Day”). Greatest Hits is a nice, succinct introduction to Withers’s work, but fans would be better off with the more complete Lean on Me career overview. –amazon.com Artist: Bill Withers Title: Best Of The Best Limited Gold Edition 01 – Just The Two Of Us 02 – Use Me 03 – Ain’t No Sunshine 04 – Lovely Day 05 – I Want To Spend The Night 06 – Soul Shadows 07 – Lean On Me 08 – Grandma’s Hands 09 – Hello Like Before 10 – Who Is He What Is He To You.

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