Bill Withers (born July 4, 1938) was a renowned American songwriter, musician, and singer. While those born after the ’90s might not be as familiar with his work, he is well-known among older generations. With a remarkable career, he accumulated numerous prestigious awards, including three Grammy Awards.
He gained fame for his iconic tracks such as “Lean on Me” and “Let Us Love,” among others. Throughout his illustrious career, he produced numerous successful studio albums, many of which became chart-toppers. He was primarily associated with two record labels, Sussex and Columbia, during his prime years.
On March 30, 2020, the world received the somber news of the passing of the beloved artist Bill Withers. His demise was attributed to a form of cardiovascular ailment. Withers lived a remarkable life spanning 81 years and will forever hold a special place in the hearts of his devoted fans.
Childhood, Parents, Siblings & Education
Bill Withers spent most of his childhood in the town of Beckley, where he experienced a range of challenges and triumphs. His life took a significant turn when, at the tender age of 13, his father, William Harrison Withers Sr., passed away. It was his mother, Mattie Rose Withers, who single-handedly raised him. Born on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Bill Withers originally hails from this small town.
At the age of 17, he made the decision to enlist in the US Navy, dedicating 9 years of his life to its service, ultimately concluding his tenure at the age of 26. Details about his college education remain scant, as his path led him to the Navy at a young age. We do know, however, that he attended a local high school in Beckley for his primary education.
Career
Let’s delve into his illustrious music career. During his time in the navy, where entertainment was scarce, he honed his skills in singing and songwriting. It wasn’t until he reached the age of 26 that he made the life-changing decision to embark on a career in music.
In 1970, Bill Withers was signed by the owner of Sussex Records who recognized his talent. However, due to a lack of funds, his debut album “Just as I Am” was delayed and eventually released in 1971.
The album achieved massive success, earning him a Grammy award for the song “Ain’t No Sunshine.” His second spouse is the proprietor of a publishing company, and when we tally all of his assets, his net worth totals $25 million.
His career kicks started and after that, he releases many other albums also, some of them are “Still Bill”, “+’Justments”, “Making Music”, “Naked & Warm”, “Menagerie”, “Bout Love” and others. There are many of his singles that are still memorable like “Three Night and a Morning”, “Harlem”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lean on Me”, “Use Me”, Heartbreak Road”, and others.
Some Lesser Known Facts about Bill Withers
| Wiki/Bio | |
|---|---|
| Real Full Birth Name | William Harrison Withers Jr. |
| Stage Name | Bill Withers. |
| Profession | Singer, Musician and Song-writer. |
| Age (As of 2019) | 81 years old. |
| Date of Birth (DOB), Birthday | July 4, 1938. |
| Death | March 30, 2020. |
| Birthplace/Hometown | Slab Fork, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Nationality | American. |
| Gender | Male. |
| Ethnicity | African-American. |
| Sexuality (Gay or Lesbian) | Straight. |
| Religion | Christian. |
| Sun Sign (Zodiac Birth Sign) | Aries. |
| House Location | Los Angeles. |
| Physical Statistics | |
| Height (Tall) | Meters: 1.8 m. Feet & Inches: 5’11”. Centimeters: 180.4 cm. |
| Weight | Pounds: 143.3 lbs. Kilograms: 65 Kg. |
| Eye Color | Brown. |
| Shoe Size (UK) | 10. |
| Hair Color | Grey. |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father: William Harrison Withers Sr. Mother: Mattie Rose Withers. |
| Siblings | No. |
| Personal Life Relationship | |
| Marital Status | Married. |
| Wife | 1. Denise Nicholas (1973-1974). 2. Marcia Johnson (1976-present). |
| Kids | 1. Todd. 2. Kori. |
| Social media | No. |
| Education | |
| Highest Qualification | High school. |
| School | Local high school. |
| Career | |
| Albums | 1. Just as I Am (1971). 2. Still Bill (1972). 3. +’Justments (1974). 4. Making Music (1975). 5. Naked & Warm (1976). 6. Menagerie (1977). 7. ‘Bout Love (1978). 8. Watching You Watching Me (1985). |
| Singles | 1. Three Night and a Morning b/w “What I’ll Do” (1967). 2. Harlem (1967). 3. Ain’t No Sunshine (1971). 4. Grandma’s Hands (1971). 5. Lean on Me (1972). 6. Use Me (1972) 7. Let Us Love (1972). 8. Kissing My Love (1973). 9. Friend of Mine (1973). 10. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh (1974) 11. You (1974). 12. Heartbreak Road (1974). 13. It’s All Over Now (1975) 14. Harlem (1975). 15. Make Love to Your Mind (1975). 16. I Wish You Well (1975). 17. Hello Like Before (1976). 18. If I Didn’t Mean You Well (1976). 19. Close to Me (1977). 20. Lovely Day (1977). 21. Lovely Night for Dancing (1978). 22. Don’t It Make It Better (1979). 23. You Got the Stuff– Part 1 (1979). 24. In the Name of Love (1984). 25. Oh Yeah (1985). 26. Something That Turns You On (1985). |
| Net worth (As in 2020) | $25 million. |
Personal life, Spouse & children
Bill Withers was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Hollywood actress Denise Nicholas in 1973. Although they had been in a romantic relationship before tying the knot, their marriage lasted only one year and ended in divorce in 1974.
Denise Bill Withers and Marcia Johnson met and decided to marry in 1976. They celebrated 43 years of wedded bliss. Marcia, a businesswoman, has since passed on the management of their affairs to their children, Kori and Todd.
Body Size, Height & Weight
He is often recalled as a rock ‘n’ roll figure sporting a distinctive round hairstyle. During his youth, he exuded boundless energy and brimmed with life’s ambitions. Bill Withers stood at a towering height of 5 feet 11 inches, and as he aged, his weight settled at approximately 65 kg.
Even at 81 years old, he consistently maintained his impeccable sense of fashion. Whenever he attended events, he effortlessly exuded charm in his well-tailored suits. During his youth, he gained fame for experimenting with various beard styles.
Trivia
- There are rumors that domestic violence was the cause of his divorce with Denise Nicholas.
- Bill Withers won Grammy just after the release of his first album which brought him in the limelight.
- There is a documentary based on his life named “Still bill”.
- You can visit his website named “billwithers.com”.
- The singer never took any sort of professional training.
- Before getting his first record contract he spent around $2500 just on demos and his hourly wage was only $3.5 at that time.
- In 2015 his name got inducted on RRHOF.
- Even after the completion of his album, he continued to do his normal job as he was unsure about his music career.