Bill Withers

Bill Withers's special brand of acoustic driven soul has been a main stay on radio stations across the globe for well over thirty years now. His style is often described as Soul/Folk, Soul/Jazz or Soul/Rock depending on which radio station or music venue happens to be playing his music. What is undoubtable is his remarkable talent as a story telling songwriter and soulful vocalist.

Withers was born on 4 July 1938 in West Virginia, his career did not get going until the his early thirties. After leaving school he promptly joint the US Navy and remained for nine years. He left in 1965 and did a succession of manual jobs legend has it that this included making toilet seats for Boeing Aircraft Company. Withers got into songwriting because as a music lover he was unable to find songs which expressed how he felt. In 1967 he decided to move to Los Angeles and make a career in music. Once there he decided to make demo's at night while holding down a full time job by day.

Despite investing a considerable amount of time and money no record company would take his music seriously. This was largely due to the fact that it cut across so many styles it was deemed too difficult to market successfully. Withers spent five years being turned down by virtually every company in Los Angeles. Withers said of this time

I made up my mind to sing but I was also knew that I didn't want to knock around for a longtime working in little clubs and the like, because that seemed like it would be an emotional strain just to keep myself employed.

"Lean on Me" David Nathan

Bill Withers break came when he met Clarence Avant of Sussex Records. Avant would later go on to play a role in the careers of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. He was very astute in assigning the legendry musician and producer Booker T Jones to produce Withers debut album. Booker T recruited two members of his own band the MG's to play on the sessions drummer Al Jackson on drums and bassist Dun Jones. Withers became an over night success after five years of toil in the wilderness. His debut album "Just as I am" contained the smash hits "Ain 't no sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands". "Just as I am" was a classic cross over album which appealed to pop soul and rock fans. It included some very sharp guitar work from Stephen Stills of Crosby Stills and Nash.

Withers followed "Just as I am" with "Still Bill" which was equally successful and charted around the world. Still includes the seminal song "Lean on Me" which went to number one in 1972. Also included was another withers favourite the funky "Use Me". At the height of Withers success he performed and recorded a memorable concert "Live at Carnegie Hall". If any proof were needed that Withers is an artist of the people then their is plenty here on this album. The kind of effortless interaction Withers has with the crowd is rarely seen. His performance of the anti war song "I can't write left hand" is spell binding.

Withers was a prolific songwriter and performer over the next seven years releasing albums such "Justments", " Menagerie" and "bout love". During the early eighties and after several legal wrangles Withers became far less productive disappointing his fans around the world. "Watching you watching me" was his last release in 1985.

Bill Withers said his inspiration came more from looking through a window as opposed to looking in a mirror. This can seen in many of his songs where he often writes as an observer giving a narrative of situations and scenes he has experienced. The come back album is well over due.

Recommended Listening

	Just As I am (Sony)
	Still Bill (Expanded Edition) (Sony)
	Live at Carnegie Hall (Legacy)
	Lean on Me (Sony)