Bill Withers

American musician (1938–2020)

William Harrison Withers Jr. (4 July 193830 March 2020) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He recorded several major hits, won three Grammy Awards and was nominated for six more. Withers worked as a professional musician for just 15 years, from 1970 to 1985, after which he moved on to other occupations. His life was the subject of the 2009 documentary film Still Bill. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow.
Sarong parakanta, para surat nin kanta, asin musikero

Quotes

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Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on…
  • And I know I know I know I know
    I know I know I know I know I know
    I know I know I know I know I know
    I know I know I know I know I know
    I know I know I know I know I know
    I know I know
    Hey I oughta leave the young thing alone
    But ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
    • "Ain't No Sunshine", on Just as I Am (1971)
  • Lean on me, when you're not strong
    And I'll be your friend
    I'll help you carry on
    For it won't be long
    'Til I'm gonna need
    Somebody to lean on.
    • "Lean on Me", on Still Bill (1972)

Rollingstone interview (2015)

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"Bill Withers : The Soul Man Who Walked Away", Rollingstone (14 April 2015)
  • I grew up in the age of Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson … It was a time where a fat, ugly broad that could sing had value. Now everything is about image. It’s not poetry. This just isn’t my time.
  • 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.
  • My first goal was, I didn’t want to be a cook or a steward … So I went to aircraft-mechanic school. I still had to prove to people that thought I was genetically inferior that I wasn’t too stupid to drain the oil out of an airplane.
    • On entering the US Navy in 1956.
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