William Harrison Withers Jr. (July 4, 1938 – March 30, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter who performed soul and R&B music. He was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, and raised in Beckley, West Virginia. Over his 18-year career, he had many popular songs, including "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), "Grandma's Hands" (1971), "Use Me" (1972), "Lean on Me" (1972), "Lovely Day" (1977), and "Just the Two of Us" (1980) (recorded with Grover Washington Jr.). Withers won three Grammy Awards out of nine total nominations.

His life was the subject of a 2009 documentary film called Still Bill. Withers was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, and the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2025. Two of his songs, "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me," were added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Early life

William Harrison Withers Jr., the youngest of six children, was born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia, a small town known for coal mining. His mother, Mattie (originally named Galloway), worked as a maid, and his father, William Withers, worked as a miner. As a child, he had a speech problem called a stutter, and he later said it was difficult to make friends. His parents separated when he was three years old, and he lived with his mother's family in Beckley, West Virginia. A statue was created in his honor in Beckley in 2025. His father passed away when William was 13 years old.

Career

Bill Withers joined the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served for nine years. During this time, he became interested in singing and writing songs. He left the Navy in 1965 and moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to begin a music career.

His first music release was "Three Nights and a Morning" in 1967. The song was arranged by Mort Garson but did not gain attention at the time. Later, Withers reworked it into a new song called "Harlem."

While working as a mechanical assembler for companies such as Douglas Aircraft Corporation, IBM, and Ford, Withers used his own money to record demo tapes. He shared these tapes with others and performed in clubs at night. When his song "Ain't No Sunshine" became popular in 1971, he refused to quit his job because he believed the music industry could change quickly. He continued to improve his musical skills, learning to play the guitar.

In early 1970, Clarence Avant, owner of Sussex Records, listened to Withers' demo tape and liked it. Avant signed Withers to a record deal and assigned Booker T. Jones, a former Stax Records producer, to create Withers' first album. The album was planned to be recorded in four three-hour sessions, but funding issues caused it to be recorded in three sessions with a six-month break between the second and final sessions. The album, Just As I Am, was released in 1971 and included the songs "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" as singles. Stephen Stills played lead guitar on the album. The album cover showed Withers holding his lunch box while working at Weber Aircraft in Burbank, California.

In October 1971, Withers received two letters on the same day. One was from Weber Aircraft, offering him his job back at a pay rate of $3.50 per hour. The other was from Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show, inviting Withers to perform "Ain't No Sunshine" on NBC.

The album Just As I Am was successful, and Withers began touring with a band formed from members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. He won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for "Ain't No Sunshine" at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972. The track had sold over one million copies and received a gold disc from the RIAA in September 1971.

During a break from touring, Withers recorded his second album, Still Bill. The single "Lean on Me" reached number one on July 8, 1972, and became his second gold single with sales exceeding three million copies. His next single, "Use Me," released in August 1972, sold over one million copies and earned a gold disc from the RIAA in October 1972. A live recording of his performance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, 1972, was released as the album Bill Withers, Live at Carnegie Hall on November 30, 1972. In 1974, Withers recorded the album +'Justments.

During this time, Withers wrote and produced two songs for the Gladys Knight & the Pips album I Feel a Song. In October 1974, he performed with James Brown, Etta James, and B.B. King in Zaire, four weeks before the Rumble in the Jungle fight between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. Footage of his performance was included in the 1996 documentary When We Were Kings and the 2008 documentary Soul Power.

Withers said about Sussex Records, "They weren’t paying me." He claimed to have erased an entire album he recorded for the label in frustration. He later said, "I could probably have handled that differently." A legal dispute with Sussex Records prevented him from recording for some time.

After Sussex Records closed, Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975. His first album with Columbia, Making Music, included the single "She's Lonely," which appeared in the film Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Over the next three years, he released three more albums: Naked & Warm (1976), Menagerie (1977; containing the successful song "Lovely Day"), and 'Bout Love (1978).

Because of problems with Columbia Records and difficulty getting his songs approved, Withers focused on joint projects from 1977 to 1985. These included "Just the Two of Us" with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., released in February 1981. The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. He also released "Soul Shadows" with the Crusaders and "In the Name of Love" with Ralph MacDonald, which was nominated for a Grammy for vocal performance.

In 1982, Withers sang on the album Dreams in Stone by French singer Michel Berger. He co-wrote and performed the song "Apple Pie," an upbeat disco song about New York City.

In 1985, Withers released the album Watching You, Watching Me, which included the Top 40 R&B single "Oh, Yeah!" This marked the end of his business relationship with Columbia Records. Withers said that many songs approved for the album had been rejected earlier, contributing to an eight-year break between his albums. He also expressed frustration that Columbia released an album for actor Mr. T while preventing him from releasing his own music. He toured with Jennifer Holliday in 1985 to promote what would be his final studio album.

Withers disliked Columbia's A&R

Legacy

Withers is known for his smooth baritone voice and rich soul arrangements. He wrote some of the most frequently covered songs from the 1970s, including "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine." "Lean on Me" appeared on the Hot 100 chart in different versions, including a 1987 cover by Club Nouveau, making it one of nine songs to reach the top of the chart through different artists. With "Lovely Day," he held the record for the longest single note on a song that charted in the U.S., singing a high E for 18 seconds.

Editors from The Guardian said Withers' songs are "some of the most beloved in the American songbook," noting that "Ain't No Sunshine" is considered one of the greatest breakup songs, while "Lean on Me" celebrates the importance of friendship. Rolling Stone writer Andy Greene stated that many of Withers' songs are deeply embedded in culture and have been covered many times.

The New York Times writer Giovanni Russonello described Withers as "a soulful singer with a gift for writing understated classics," adding that he had a natural ability to create memorable songs and focused on everyday themes like work, family, love, and loss. Billboard called Withers "one of R&B/soul music's most revered singer-songwriters." The magazine also noted that Withers' influence has continued through the years, as many artists have covered or sampled his songs or cited him as an inspiration.

Musician and journalist Questlove called Withers' 1974 album Justments "a diary" that offered a glimpse into his life before reality TV became popular. The Beach Boys member Brian Wilson called Withers "a songwriter's songwriter." Artists such as Sade, D'Angelo, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, and Ed Sheeran have credited Withers as a musical influence.

Withers' music has been widely sampled by hip hop and pop artists, including Basehead, Blackstreet, Kendrick Lamar, DMX, Tupac Shakur, Jennifer Lopez, and Aaliyah.

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Withers at number 106 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. The Library of Congress' National Recording Registry added "Ain't No Sunshine" to its 2024 list of 25 important sound recordings.

In September 2025, Withers was chosen for induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and was officially inducted in October.

Personal life

Withers married actress Denise Nicholas in 1973 while she was appearing on the sitcom Room 222. They divorced in 1974.

In 1976, Withers married Marcia Johnson. Together, they had two children, Todd and Kori. Later, Marcia took over managing his publishing companies, and his children became involved in these businesses as they grew older.

Withers passed away due to heart problems in a hospital in Los Angeles on March 30, 2020, at the age of 81. His family shared the news of his death four days after his passing.

A family statement said:
He was cremated at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery using its crematory. His ashes were later placed in an unmarked grave.

Discography

• Just as I Am (1971)
• Still Bill (1972)
• +'Justments (1974)
• Making Music (1975)
• Naked & Warm (1976)
• Menagerie (1977)
• 'Bout Love (1978)
• Watching You, Watching Me (1985)

• Live at Carnegie Hall (1973)

• The Best of Bill Withers (1975)
• The Best of Bill Withers (1980)
• Bill Withers' Greatest Hits (1981)
• Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers (1994)
• The Best of Bill Withers: Lean on Me (2000)
• The Ultimate Bill Withers Collection (2000)
• Lovely Day: The Very Best of Bill Withers (2005)
• Ain't No Sunshine: The Best of Bill Withers (2008)
• Playlist: The Very Best of Bill Withers (2009)
• The Essential Bill Withers (2013)

Accolades

The Grammy Awards are given by The Recording Academy. Withers has received three Grammy Awards out of nine nominations.

• 2005: Added to Songwriters Hall of Fame
• 2006: Received ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage award
• 2007: Added to West Virginia Music Hall of Fame
• 2015: Added to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• 2017: Received honorary degree from West Virginia University
• 2025: Added to National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame