In Honor Of Bill Withers

An incredible musician who fought inequality within the music industry and beyond

By Kinga Mozes

Influential singer Bill Withers died on March 30 in Los Angeles. He was 81. His song “Lean on Me” has resurfaced amidst the chaos of COVID-19.

Growing up, Withers struggled with a stutter, so he enlisted in the Navy. After he was discharged he decided he wanted to make music, but he didn’t own a guitar. He worked a factory job installing toilets to make ends meet. He made mixtapes and they struck a chord with Sussex Records. 

They were enamored by Withers’ disinterest in being anyone but himself. His album cover for “Just As I Am” features a photo of him holding his lunch pail. Songs like “Ain’t No Sunshine” demonstrated Withers ’ability to forgo male ego and hypnotize people with songs about heartache. He wasn’t interested in playing by the rules, which led to a clash with Columbia Records, his second label. After a disagreement about covering Elvis Presley’s song, Withers decided enough was enough. He figured if it wasn’t going to be done his way, he had a job at the factory. By this time, he had already achieved success: three Grammys. 

Despite his brief career, Withers was one of the most influential artists to have ever lived. In 2015 he was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. When asked about why he pursued music, he responded, “I was born that way. The question was whether I was just gonna do it for myself or someone else, know what I mean?”