Bill Withers, the sweet-voiced baritone behind such classic songs as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me” and “Use Me” has died. Withers was 81 years old. According to a family statement given to the Associated Press, he died Monday in Los Angeles due to heart complications. (On Friday morning, Withers’ official Facebook page shared an obituary from Billboard that references the AP’s reporting.)
Withers, who disdained the machinations of the record industry, stopped recording in 1985, just 14 years after he became a star with his debut album, Just As I Am.
The son of a West Virginia coal miner, William Harrison Withers, Jr. was born July 4, 1938. He grew up with a stutter and was one of 13 children in his family. Only six survived infancy.
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