The singer who was successful with hits such as "Lovely Day", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Just the Two of Us" died at his home at 81
Bill Withers // Photo Archive: Reuters
Bill Withers, who signed a string of solo songs in the 1970s, passed away last Monday, according to a statement released by his family. Withers died in his home in Los Angeles as a result of heart disease complications. He was 81 years old.
"We are broken because of the loss of our dear and beloved husband and father," the family statement sent to the media in the United States said. "(He was) a lonely man with a heart who was determined to connect with the world in his poetry and music. He spoke truth to humans and connected them."
The message reads: "As much as his life was private with family and close friends, his music will forever belong to the world. We pray that his fans will find comfort and entertainment as they hold on tight to their loved ones."
With a three-time Grammy Award for his musical activity and temporary hits he wrote and sang, including "Lovely Day," "Ain't No Sunshine," "Just the Two of Us," and "Lean on Me." Last to be renewed in the shadow of the Corona crisis, when it became the unofficial anthem of health industry workers, artists and choirs who uploaded social versions of their own to sing.
During his brief career, retiring from the field in the 1980s, Withers provided hits that became soundtracks of various weddings and ceremonies, especially in his homeland.
"Lean on Me" plays in the inaugural ceremonies of US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and alongside his Grammy Award winners, he was nominated nine times for the prestigious award. His songs appear on many of the greatest musical works of all time and have received countless cover versions from artists such as Will Smith, Blackstreet, Black Eyed Peas and more.
He himself is considered a role model for the black community in the United States, and is considered a symbol of minority struggle in rift America and the voice of connecting populations together. In 2015, he was made a member of the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, with the honor bestowed on him by Stevie Wonder. Withers left behind his wife Marcia and his children Todd and Cory.