• July 4, 1938-March 30, 2020
• Withers was born on the Fourth of July, 1938. He was the youngest of six children.
• He spent nine years in the Navy, where he had speech therapy to overcome his stuttering. After his release from the Navy, he wrote songs as he delivered milk, worked for the Ford Motor Company, and then worked for IBM.
• After he moved to LA in 1967, he worked for $3.50 per hour at Lockheed Aircraft and spent $2500 for demos... No record companies were interested.
• He was making toilet seats for Boeing 747's in 1970 when he was introduced to Booker T. Jones (Booker T and the MG's), who subsequently produced Withers' first LP, Just As I Am, with Stephen Stills on lead guitar. The album cover is a photo of Withers at the factory where he worked - he's holding his lunch pail.
• His first single, "Ain't No Sunshine" peaked at #3 in the US and won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1972). After "Grandma's Hands" stalled at #42, Sussex Records released his second LP, Still Bill, from which he had the two biggest hits of his career, the #1 "Lean on Me" and the #2 "Use Me." The former was composed in the late '60s while he was working at Lockheed Aircraft. A live LP yielded a mid-size hit, #31 "Kissing My Love," in 1973.
• In the mid-1970's he changed labels (to Columbia) after a legal dispute with Sussex Records. When Sussex folded, Columbia bought all the rights to Withers' material. His only Top 40 hit for Columbia was "Lovely Day," which hit US #30 in 1977.
• He wrote and provided vocal for Grover Washington Jr's #2 "Just the Two of Us" in 1981.
• In 2015, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Stevie Wonder giving the induction speech.

Comments: 2

• Catmandew from Fl, UsaAs was once said in a Pogo cartoon, "Double-oogh with nuts!"
• Peanut from Pomonkey, MdHow do you change a duck into a R&B singer? You put him into a microwave oven until his bill withers.

More Songfacts:

Big Yellow TaxiJoni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" is about the commercialization of Hawaii. On her first trip to the islands, she looked out of her hotel window and saw a parking lot as far as the eye could see.

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

The FlameCheap Trick

Cheap Trick hated the ballad "The Flame" but recorded it because they needed a hit, and the song delivered, going to #1.

The BestTina Turner

"The Best" by Tina Turner was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler; Turner's hit version added a bridge and a saxophone solo by Edgar Winter.

RoyalsLorde

Lorde was 16 years and 11 months old when "Royals" topped the Hot 100. In doing so she became the youngest ever solo artist to write and perform a #1 hit.

GreaseFrankie Valli

The song "Grease," sung by Frankie Valli in the 1978 movie, was written by Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees.

Editor's Picks

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?