Bill Withers, singer of 'Lean On Me' and 'Lovely Day', dies at 81

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1 of 13 | The celebrities who have passed away in 2020. See the gallery →

2 of 13 | Singer-songwriter Bill Withers died on March 30, 2020 in Los Angeles of cardiac complications. He was 81 years old. Whiters is remembered for poignant hits like "Lean On Me", "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day".

3 of 13 | Swedish actor Max von Sydow, who became famous in Ingmar Bergman's films before appearing on international hits like "Game of Thrones," died on March 9 at the age of 90.

4 of 13 | Caroline Flack, 40, host of the hit British reality show 'Love Island', committed suicide and her body was found on February 15 in her East London apartment.

5 of 13 | "Nanny McPhee" star and climate change activist Raphael Coleman died at the age of 25 on February 7.

6 of 13 | Kirk Douglas died on February 5 at age 103.

7 of 13 | Kobe Byrant died at age 41 on January 26 in a helicopter crash.

8 of 13 | Neil Peart, whose virtuous drum performances and artful lyrics propelled his band Rush to world stardom and sealed his place as one of the best drummers in rock music, died on January 10. He was 67 years old.

9 of 13 | Actor Harry Hains, who played roles in productions such as "American Horror Story," died on January 10 at age 27.

10 of 13 | Silvio Horta, the creator of Ugly Betty, died on January 8 at age 45

11 of 13 | David Stern, former NBA commissioner, died on January 1 at age 77

12 of 13 | American singer-songwriter David Olney, whose music was performed by Linda Ronstadt, Steve Young, Emmylou Harris, and others, died of an apparent heart attack while performing on stage in Florida on Saturday, January 20, 2020. He was 71 years old. .

13 of 13 | Terry Jones, one of the stars of the British humor group Monty Python, died on January 18, 2020 at the age of 77. In recent years, he talked about his health problems, including dementia.

(CNN) - Bill Withers, the singer and songwriter whose poignant hits like "Lean On Me," "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lovely Day" became part of the soundtrack for a generation, died.

He was 81 years old.

Withers died Monday in Los Angeles of heart complications, according to his family.

“We are devastated by the loss of our loving and devoted husband and father. A lonely man with a heart driven to connect with the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly with people and connected them to each other, "his family said in a statement obtained by CNN. Although he had a private life close to family and close friends, his music will always belong to the world. In this difficult time, we pray that his music will offer comfort and entertainment as fans cling to their loved ones. ”

His songs have been considered timeless and "Lean On Me" has experienced a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic due to his community message.

"Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to Bruce Springsteen," musician Quest Love told Rolling Stone in 2015.

Artists of various genres and musical styles mourned the passing of Withers on Twitter.

Rest in power Bill Withers. Your voice, songs, and total expression gave us love, hope, and strength. My soul always has & always will be full of your music. Your humility displayed & depth of your power as you carried us all to a better place. You're still & always will be Bill. pic.twitter.com/mkpcSBfuZv

- Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) April 3, 2020

I'm very sad to hear about Bill Withers passing. Bill was a "songwriter's songwriter" and wrote so many great songs like "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me." A real loss. Love & Mercy to Bill's family. - Brian pic.twitter.com/dUGAre6Bjt

- Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) April 3, 2020

Rest In Peace, teacher Bill Withers.
What a legacy.https: //t.co/GBImqLRdPh

- Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 3, 2020

"Rest in power Bill Withers. Your voice, songs and total expression gave us love, hope and strength, ”rocker Lenny Kravitz tweeted. “My soul has always been and always will be full of your music. Your humility is displayed and the depth of your power as you lead us to a better place. You still are and always will be Bill. ”

Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers overcame a stutter as a child and joined the Navy as a teenager.

After a nine-year stint in the Army, Withers moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to pursue a career in music, taking a job at the Boeing Aircraft Company where he made toilet seats during the day.

In the evening Withers recorded demos and finally met the head of Sussex Records, the now famous music entrepreneur Clarence Avant.

Wither's first album, "Just As I Am", was released in 1971 and included the singles "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands".

"Ain't No Sunshine" was a hit and in 1972 Withers took home a Grammy for the single.

That same year, "Lean On Me," a song Withers wrote after taking inspiration from her childhood in West Virginia, went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.

The success has been covered by several other artists, including the Club Nouveau. His version earned Withers a Grammy in 1987 as a songwriter.

The song is also the subject of the 1989 film Morgan Freeman of the same name and was performed at the inaugurations for both President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.

His 1972 album "Still Bill" released another hit with "Use Me".

A legal battle with Sussex led him to sign with Columbia Records, where he recorded "Lovely Day" as part of the 1977 album, "Menagerie". Withers co-wrote the 1980 hit "Just The Two of Us," which he recorded with saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. The song earned him his second best R&B Grammy song in 1981.

Withers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

His ability to write songs was as acclaimed as his singing.

"We lost a songwriting giant today," said Paul Williams, president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in a statement. "Bill Withers' songs are among the most precious and profound in the American songbook: They are universal in the way they touch people around the world, transcending genre and generation."

"He was a beautiful man with a surprising sense of humor and a gift for the truth," added Williams. “I will miss him personally as will the entire ASCAP family. We love you, Bill. Our hearts go out to his family. "

In 1973, Withers made headlines when he married "Room 222" actress Denise Nicholas, but the couple divorced a year later.

He married Marcia Johnson in 1976 and with her he had two children: Todd and Kori.

Bill withers