rooster59 Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Bill Withers, soulful singer of 'Ain't No Sunshine,' dead at 81 FILE PHOTO: Musician Bill Withers speaks as he is inducted during the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio April 18, 2015. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bill Withers, a soulful singer best known for the 1970s hits "Lean on Me," "Lovely Day" and "Ain’t No Sunshine," has died at age 81 from heart complications, his family said on Friday. Withers produced nine albums, most of them written and recorded in the 1970s, starting with "Just As I Am," which included "Ain't No Sunshine," which won him the first of three Grammy Awards, according to his official website. His musical career ebbed in the 1980s as he left "the hype and the hoopla" of the spotlight for a more private life, it said. "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," Rolling Stone magazine quoted the family as saying a statement. "As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world.” Withers was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, among his several honors, and made a rare public appearance to accept the tribute. His death drew a flood of tributes, including one from Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who said he often played Withers' "Lovely Day" at events during his now-ended presidential campaign. "In this time of death and pain, I hold onto him," Booker said in a statement. "He gave us lifetimes of light and that flame will never be extinguished." Booker's former campaign rival, Senator Kamala Harris of California, called Withers a legend whose song "Grandma's Hands" reminded her of her own grandmother and other mother figures. "Let's all continue to live by his cherished lyrics during these times and lean on each other," Harris said in a statement. William Harrison Withers Jr. was born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia, a coal country town of 200, the son of a miner who died when Withers was 13. He joined the Navy at 17 as his "ticket out," according to his website. After his military service, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked in an aircraft parts factory, taught himself to play the guitar and made a demo tape that launched his career. (Reporting by Frank McGurty and Peter Szekely in New York; Editing by Franklin Paul and Matthew Lewis) -- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-04 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GalaxyMan Posted April 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted April 4, 2020 R.I.P. One of a kind. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkk6060 Posted April 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted April 4, 2020 His song "Lean on me" is very appropriate for these times. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bredbury Blue Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 He was the first artist I found for myself (instead of parents n older brother) when I bought Live At Carnegie...a brilliant double album (full album on youtube). Bought his first 4 albums. Think his Old Grey Whistle Test performance made a big impression on me. He was popular in the UK. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Thank you for the music, which will live on forever..........R.I.P. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tug Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 He touched a lot of people and made the world just a little bit better you are missed allready thankyou for your art 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UbonThani Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Great tunes. Most modern music is rubbish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watthong Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Oh no... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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