US Soul singer and songwriter Bill Withers, who rose to fame after songs like ‘Lean on Me’ and ‘Ain’t no Sunshine’, has died from heart complications in Los Angeles. The three-time Grammy award winner was 81.
A family statement read that they are devastated by the loss of their beloved, devoted husband and father.
Survived by his wife Marcia Johnson and two children Todd and Kori, the statement describes him as a solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large through his poetry and music.
1/4 We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other. As private a life as he lived close pic.twitter.com/15GzpoSuAx
— Bill Withers (@RealBillWithers) April 3, 2020
Withers withdrew from making music in the mid-80s, but the longevity of his songs continues to resonate even as healthcare workers around the world struggle through difficult times in combating the coronavirus outbreak.
His music has been performed at Presidential inaugurations – for both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton – while “Ain’t no Sunshine” and “Lean on Me” are among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time as listed by Rolling Stone.
This is my daily anthem! If you need us, we are here for you! Call us anytime at *47! #BillWithers #Leanonme pic.twitter.com/H3YnuffQ7G
— Trooper David SCHP (@SCHP_Troop1) April 1, 2020
