Bill Withers R.I.P.

[Frontporch]

RIP Bill.

Thanks for all of the great music! I've played a lot of it over the years. We are playing "Kissing My Love" in my current band.

The str intro to that tune is sheer genius.

 

[Mugre]

He was a longtime client and a friend. Everyday that he came into the shop was a good day. We'll miss him.

Bill grew up a stutterer who overcame it with rehab and singing. He and his wife are supporters of SAY. Stuttering Association for the Young. Our shop is going to make a medium sized donation, even in this economic climate, in his name. Maybe you could check out the website and sling 'em 20,30,50 dollars in honor of his legacy.

Support SAY | SAY

 

[justjake]

now bill , you can again hold on to grandma's hands. thanks for the soul.

 

[juancaminos]

RIP Bill
Fantastic song right here

 

[John Stephen]

Like everybody else here, I am very sorry to hear he has passed away. His songs always reached into your heart. No gimmicks, no pretense, just honest emotions. I saw him once, in the mid-1970s at a club called the Main Point in Ardmore PA (outside of Philly). I remember how impressed my friend and I were, at how he could deliver such a great performance without any theatrics. I don't remember any more if it was just him or if he had a band with him. That performance was the first time I heard "Grandma's Hands," and did that ever make an impression on me. His songs are a gift to all of us.

 

[GregC]

 

[LBS-bass]

I posted it in the other thread. It kills every time you play it if you don't rush it.

Thanks for that and so many more killer songs, Bill!

A giant, a huge loss, and a great song. I posted our version of it in my signature as a tribute to him. RIP Bill.

 

[PaulS]

Damn this week sucks. Marsalis, Adam Schlesinger, Bucky Pizzarelli

 

[pbass74]

A sad thing indeed. "Lovely Day" has been on our song list for a couple of years. Fun to play, too.

 

[TinIndian]

Wow. R.I.P Bill. Always loved his music. He is sorely missed.

 

[jamro217]

Sad indeed. He was good role model for musicians. Use whatever talent you have the best way you can to get your point across. No pitch fixing his voice, just honest singing on simple heartfelt songs.

 

[Ric Vice]

A great loss and sad to hear in these trying times, but a life well lived with soul and his conviction of spirit.

Rest in Peace and Harmony Bill

 

[4001]

It's a cloudy day today...

R.I.P.

 

[Father Gino]

Very sad. Perhaps the greatest example of humility ever in the music industry. A shining example of talent, emotion, content over hype and formulated “showmanship”.

 

[monkeyfinger]

His songs are timeless.

 

[ELG60]

He was a genuine talent. Iirc, he worked at the same Douglas Aircraft plant that Tommy Tedesco worked for prior to becoming a session guitarist.

 

[MegaSwing]

A truly great artist. Very unpretentious in content and style. No one ever built a recording career with more integrity. R.I.P., Mr. Withers.

 

[chazolson]

We do Use Me and Lovely Day. The latter is great fun to wildly overplay bass on, which I do with gusto.

 

[Hambone70]

Incredibly talented, humble and nice human being. Had the class to end his career at the top.

RIP, Bill.

 

[garp]

Rest in peace, Bill. Part of the soundtrack of my youth.

A sad thing indeed. "Lovely Day" has been on our song list for a couple of years. Fun to play, too.

We do Use Me and Lovely Day. The latter is great fun to wildly overplay bass on, which I do with gusto.

Just listened to the studio recording of "Lovely Day." That is a great bass line. Just might have to research Jerry Knight's other stuff in the days ahead.