Bill Withers, "Lean on Me" Legendary Singer, Dies at 81

Bill Withers, the soulful singer of "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine" hits died of heart complications, March 30, in Los Angeles, as announced by his family on April 3. The three-time Grammy award winner was 81 in his passing.

From a released statement to the Associated Press, the family said they are devastated by his loss as a beloved, devoted husband and father. They said he was a "solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music". They believed his honesty connected him to the people.

The statement further said Mr. Withers led a private life living close with family and friends and "his music forever belongs to the world". It is the family's prayer that his "music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones" in this difficult time.

Wither's career

Mr. Withers, born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, W.Va, started his music career when he was 33. "Just as I Am", his first album, was released in 1971. One of the tracks in the said album was "Ain't No Sunshine". The hit song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts.

Perhaps Wither's most popular composition would be "Lean on Me", which hit the airwaves in April 1972. The song was lifted from his second album "Still Bill". "Lean on Me" is considered as an immortal anthem that speaks of strong friendship and support. The iconic song earned him his only No. 1 spot in Billboard Hot 100, in which the single remained for three weeks.

Other hit songs from the singer-songwriter were "Use Me" (1972), "Lovely Day" (1977) and "Just the Two of Us" (1981) among others.

Withers had three Grammy Awards under his name. The first one was the 1971 hit "Ain't No Sunshine". He received his second Grammy in 1982 with the soft-jazzy tune of "Just the Two of Us", which he co-wrote with Ralph MacDonald and William Salter. The song is a collab with Grover Washington Jr. The 1972 classic "Lean on Me" gave him his third Grammy in 1988. He became the first songwriter to have won the award for best R&B three times. In 2015, he became a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

The industry's reaction to Wither's death

News of Wither's death resonated immediately in the music industry with celebrities post their sympathies online.

Rocker Lenny Kravitz said in his Twitter, "Rest in power Bill Withers". He added that his voice, songs, total expression gave love, hope, and strength.

Lin Manuel Miranda called him "Maestro", and wrote "What a legacy".

First Lady Ivanka Trump twitted that he is one of the absolute all-time greats. She further wrote that now is the appropriate time to reflect on his words in reference to his song "Lean on Me".

The president and chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, Paul Williams, said in a statement, "We lost a giant of songwriting today," He said that Withers' transcend genre and generation with his most treasured songs.

Several netizens have also shared online their rendition of his famous songs as a tribute to the legendary singer.