Bill Withers trivia: 71 facts about the famous singer

Bill Withers was an important singer with many famous songs and a long career in the music industry.

Bill Withers, who passed away today, was an important singer. Let’s find out more about him and his life!

1. Withers was born on the Fourth of July, 1938.
2. He was born in the town of Slab Fork, West Virginia.
3. He was the youngest of a family with 6 children.
4. He was born with a stutter and he struggled to fit in.
5. His father died when he was only 13 years old.
6. Later at the age of 18, he served in the U.S. navy.
7. He was in the U.S. Navy for 9 years!
8. His service helped him overcome his issues with the stutter.
9. He left the U.S. Navy in 1965.
10. He sold his furniture to IBM for 250$ and with this money, he moved to L.A in 1967.
11. His goal was to start a music career in Los Angeles.
12. At first, he was working as an assembler for many companies.
13. He also worked in factories.
14. While working as an assembler, he was paying to record his own demo tapes.
15. He was also performing in night clubs.
16. Despite the fact, his dream was to become a musician he didn’t have so much faith in the music industry.
17. When he debuted with the later famous song “Ain’t No Sunshine”, he didn’t resign from his day job.
18. In the early 70s Clarence Avant, owner os Sussex Records discovered Bill Withers.
19. He was making toilet seats for Boeing 747’s in 1970 when he was introduced to Booker T. Jones.
20. He signed a record deal about an album that was produced by the stalwart Booker T. Jones.
21. This was his first music album.
22. The album was recorded in 3 sessions.
23. At first, it was planned to be recorded in 3 hours.
24. His first album was named “Just as I Am”.
25. In “Just As I Am” cover, Bill Withers appears in the factory where he was working.
26. Actually, he’s holding his lunch pail.
27. It was released in May 1971 and included the song that rose Bill Wither into fame such as “Ain’t No Sunshine”.
28. Ain’t No Sunshine was ranked 280 in the Rolling Stones magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
29. Later on, this album was released again as a dual disc.
30. Apparently, the album was his big break, and so after that, he began touring along with the band Watts 103rd Street Rhythm.
31. On March 14, 1972, during the 14th annual Grammy Awards, he won his first Grammy.
32. The Grammy was for the Best R&B Song for Ain’t No Sunshine since it sold over one million copies.
33. The song was also awarded a gold disc.
34. While touring he recorded his second album.
35. The next album was named “Still Bill”.
36. The album was released in May 1972.
37. It was produced along with the music band he was touring with.
38. In that album was featured the 2nd single “Lean on Me”.
39. The song was on the top pf Billboard pop and R&B.
40. It was his second gold single.
41. Confirmed sales overcame 3 million!
42. The album also includes the song use me.
43. “Still Bill” is considered a classic album of 70s R&B music.
44. The documentary about Bill Withers’ life was also called “Still Bill”.
45. The documentary was released in October 2009.
46. In 1973 Bill Withers got married with the actress Denise Nicholas, but they split one year later.
47. In 1974 he performed a concert along with other music legends: James Brown, Etta James & B.B. King.
48. The concert happened 4 weeks before the Foreman and Ali fight in the historic Rumble in the Jungle.
49. You can watch footage of his performance in the 1996 documentary film When We Were Kings.
50. Some others are included in the 2008 documentary film “Soul Power.”
51. In 1976 Bill Withers left the Sussex Records for Columbia Records.
52. He left Sussex Records due to a legal dispute with the company. 
53. The same year he also hot married Marcia Johnson, and together created a family with 2 children- Todd & Kori.
54. Problems existed with the company due to his songs, that weren’t approved, so he participated in joint projects.
55. This how we got “Just The Two of Us” with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington.
56. The song won a Grammy- Bill Withers’ second Grammy.
57. He left Columbia Records in 1985.
58. This is considered the end of an era for his career.
59. After leaving Columbia Records though got new versions for his songs.
60. In 1987 received his 9th Grammy Award nomination.
61. Next year he was awarded for the 3rd time for the Best Rhythm and Blues Song a songwriter for the re-recording of “Lean on Me”.
62. In 2007 “Lean On Me” was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
63. On April 2018, 2015 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Stevie Wonder.
64. Also, a tribute concert in his honor happened at Carnegie Hall.
65. He has also publicly spoken about the refugee crisis and the political climate in the U.S.A.
66. Bill Withers owned Beverly Hills publishing companies.
67. After getting married to Marcia Johnson, she took over the management of them.
68. Their children were involved in the companies when they became adults.
69. He passed away on Monday the 30th of March 2020.
70. The cause of his death was a heart attack.
71. His family confirmed his death a few days later, on April 3rd.