Bill Withers passed away this week at age 81.According to his family, he died on Monday. A cause of death has not been released, but the family says it was due to "heart complications."
Withers is best known for the hits "Lovely Day" and "Lean on Me" -- the latter of which has been a source of inspiration for many during the coronavirus crisis.
"Lean on Me" was number-one hit back in 1972.Billsaid he's more appreciated today than when he was on the charts:
"When I was actually out there, I played small places. I never drew that many people. I didn't get any applause. The kind of stuff that I did, actually, it took about 30 years for it to sink in. But when I was current, I wasn't that big a deal. So, I learned my lesson, you know. If I stay out at home, things go well for me."
In an interview, Bill talked about the inspiration he had for another classic -- "Ain't No Sunshine.”
Men have problems admitting to losing things. I think women are much better at that. Women can stay stuff like, 'I loved him. I really, really loved him. But he just left. Why did he leave like that?' Men, given the same situation, usually say something like, 'I'm glad the old jive broad split, man.' Knowing all the time that it's really killing him inside. So once in my life, I wanted to forgo my own male ego and admit to losing something."
Bill Withers, whose "Lean on Me" was number-one this week in 1972, says he's more appreciated today than when he was on the charts.
"When I was actually out there, I played small places. I never drew that many people. I didn't get any applause. The kind of stuff that I did, actually, it took about 30 years for it to sink in. But when I was current, I wasn't that big a deal. So, I learned my lesson, you know. If I stay out at home, things go well for me."