Bill Withers, the acclaimed 1970s soul singer behind hits Lean on Me and Ain’t No Sunshine has died from heart complications. He was 81.
The singer died on Monday in Los Angeles, his family told the Associated Press.
He was described in a statement as a “solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world.”
“He spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other,” another statement said.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father,” said his family in a statement.
“A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music. He spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other.
“As private a life as he lived close to intimate family and friends, his music forever belongs to the world. In this difficult time, we pray his music offers comfort and entertainment as fans hold tight to loved ones.”
Withers‘ biggest hits, Lean on Me and Ain’t No Sunshine, are standards of devotion and loss capable of carrying an entire Hollywood movie.
He strummed an acoustic guitar like any number of early-’70s songwriters, but the raw simplicity of his recordings can be heard in samples by the likes of Dr. Dre, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar.
He is famous for his smooth baritone vocals and sumptuous soul arrangements. He wrote some of the 70s best-remembered songs, including Just The Two Of Us, Lovely Day and Use Me.
Although Withers released his last album in 1985, his work will remain omnipresent.
