Soul legend Bill Withers died last Monday in Los Angeles from heart complications. He was 81.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father,” his family said in a statement. “A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other. As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world.” They add, “In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones.”
Withers is best known for such classic songs as “Lovely Day,” “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and more. He won three GRAMMYs and released eight albums, with his final record, “Watching you Watching Me” released in 1985. Not long after he retired from recording and performing, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That was 2015 and it was one of the last times he performed.
I always loved Withers because he was a guitar player with a deep voice, like me, but more than anything he was a phenomenal song writer This version of Ain't No Sunshine is so simple it's awesome. Withers' acoustic guitar and the the subtle electric guitar blend together so well, but never get in the way of this incredibly soulful version.
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