BILL WITHERS

West Virginia native Bill Withers joined the L.A. music scene in the late 60s after a stint in the Navy. In 1970 he was signed to the Sussex music label and hit the ground running with his first album, Just As I Am, and its instantly classic acoustic ballad, "Ain't No Sunshine." Withers' understated, rootsy style was a perfect contrast to where popular music was going at the time, from pre-disco dance music to glam rock. His second release, 1972's Still Bill, became a career disc, with top hits "Use Me" and "Lean On Me," arguably one of the greatest songs of the past half century.
Withers was fairly prolific over the next half decade, releasing +Justments, Making Music, Naked and Warm, Menagerie and 'Bout Love. And while those discs were of somewhat uneven quality, each contained enough jaw-dropping material to make the album work overall. It was these select, wonderfully melodic cuts, from "Lovely Day" to "Hello Like Before," that would make Withers' music continue to resonate nearly 30 years later through dozens of remakes by other acts. (soultracks.com)

Ain't No Sunshine  (1972)

Lean On Me

Use Me  (1972)

Grandma's Hands  (1972)

Just The Two Of Us

Oh Yeah