• About Us
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Register
The Urban Twist
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • Race & Culture
    • Fashion
    • Love & Romance
    • Food
    • Health
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • Race & Culture
    • Fashion
    • Love & Romance
    • Food
    • Health
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
The Urban Twist
No Result
View All Result

Soul Legend Bill Withers Succumbs to Heart Issues at 81.

Ashly E. SmithbyAshly E. Smith
April 3, 2020
inCover Story, Music
Soul Legend Bill Withers Succumbs to Heart Issues at 81.

Photo credit: Billboard.com

With timeless classics that still rule the airwaves, which have been covered by everyone from Micheal Jackson, to Club Nouveau, to Barbra Streisand, to Paul McCartney, to Aretha Franklin, William Harrison “Bill” Withers Jr.  has cemented his place in music history. He departed this life on March 30, 2020 from heart complications. He was 81.  The youngest of six children, Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia and enlisted into the Navy at the tender age of 17.

Arriving in Los Angeles in 1967, His demos, produced by Ray Jackson, led to an introduction to Forrest Hamilton, who introduced Withers to Clarence Avant of Sussex Records. Soonafter, history was made. Once Avant asked Booker T. Jones to produce Withers’ debut album, The ending result was the groundbreaking Just As Iam, which featured the endearing “Grandma’s Hands” and the Grammy-winning “Ain’t No Sunshine”. On the heels of two major hits, Withers soon began the first of many international tours. Little did he know, his star would soon rise even higher.

His second album, Still Bill, catapulted Withers to heights that he never knew existed, with the popular sing-a-long “Use Me” and the timeless, spirit lifter, “Lean On Me”, for which Withers won his third Grammy. After the release of 1974’s + Justments, Withers signed with Columbia Records for 1975’s Making Music, 1976’s Naked & Warm, 1977’s Menagerie, which featured the ever so popular feel good single, “Lovely Day” and 1979’s Bout Love, which featured the chart topping, “Don’t It Make It Better”. The hits didn’t stop there. 1980 saw the birth of “Just the Two of Us” a duet with Grover Washington Jr., which was not only another radio staple, but a was a career pinnacle, garnering four Grammy nominations, and a win for Withers for Best R&B Song. After becoming frustrated with the music industry, Withers decided to take a break after releasing Watching You, Watching Me, his final album for Columbia, which featured the single, “Oh Yeah.”

The hip hop community has also been influenced by Withers with his classics being samples by many hip hop heavyweights including Jay-Z, 2pac, Kayne West, Akon and DMX. His timeless classics can still be heard in a plethora of motion pictures and television shows including Girls Trip, American Beauty, The Secret Life of Pets, Scandal, CSI, Snowfall, and The Simpsons.

In addition to his three Grammys, Withers has won a host of other prestigious awards including an induction into the 2005 Songwriters Hall of Fame and a 2015 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Paving the way for many, Withers will always remain one of music’s most cherished souls. He will be sincerely missed.

Tags:Bill WithersIconsSoul LegendsThe Urban Twist
Previous Post

Grandmother Who Went Viral For Accidentally Texting Thanksgiving Invite to Stranger, Reportedly Has COVID-19

Next Post

Teachers Go The Extra Mile For Their Students While Teaching Virtually During Viral Pandemic

Related Posts

Rob Murat generates much needed escapism with his new single, “Runaway”
Entertainment

Rob Murat generates much needed escapism with his new single, “Runaway”

byAshly E. Smith
April 2, 2021
Tyke T keeps love in bloom with his new single, “Lottery”
Entertainment

Tyke T keeps love in bloom with his new single, “Lottery”

byAshly E. Smith
March 31, 2021
Wu-Tang’s RZA Talks Second Chances and ‘Cut Throat City’ Film
Interviews

Wu-Tang’s RZA Talks Second Chances and ‘Cut Throat City’ Film

byAllison Kugel
March 20, 2021
Jacob Lutz Brings In Universal Sounds to Nashville with ‘Lonely Heart’ and ‘Same Love’
Music

Jacob Lutz Brings In Universal Sounds to Nashville with ‘Lonely Heart’ and ‘Same Love’

byRichard Behr
March 19, 2021
Megan Thee Stallion sizzles with 1940s themed Grammy performance
Entertainment

Megan Thee Stallion sizzles with 1940s themed Grammy performance

byAshly E. Smith
March 15, 2021
Next Post
Teachers Go The Extra Mile For Their Students While Teaching Virtually During Viral Pandemic

Teachers Go The Extra Mile For Their Students While Teaching Virtually During Viral Pandemic

TOP STORIES

#ReleaseThePepeCut: Pepe Le Pew’s Space Jam Co-Star Greice Santo’s Offering a $100,000 ‘Reward’ For The Now-Deleted Footage
Cover Story

#ReleaseThePepeCut: Pepe Le Pew’s Space Jam Co-Star Greice Santo’s Offering a $100,000 ‘Reward’ For The Now-Deleted Footage

byTUT Staff
March 12, 2021
US Capitol Police Chief Resigns After Riots At The Capitol
Cover Story

US Capitol Police Chief Resigns After Riots At The Capitol

byBien Luigi
January 7, 2021
Chloe and Halle heat up the summer with sassy new single “Do It”
Cover Story

Chloe and Halle heat up the summer with sassy new single “Do It”

byAshly E. Smith
May 20, 2020

LATEST NEWS

The Best Options For Streaming Service This Weekend

The Best Options For Streaming Service This Weekend

6 hours ago
Flatbush Zombies’ Debut Album Will Be Celebrated With An Upcoming Graphic Novel

Flatbush Zombies’ Debut Album Will Be Celebrated With An Upcoming Graphic Novel

7 hours ago
Rich The Kid’s ‘Richard Millie Patek’ Is A Tribute To Expensive Watch Collecting

Rich The Kid’s ‘Richard Millie Patek’ Is A Tribute To Expensive Watch Collecting

7 hours ago
Ariana Grande And The Weeknd Offer New Life “Save Your Tears” With An Animated Remix

Ariana Grande And The Weeknd Offer New Life “Save Your Tears” With An Animated Remix

7 hours ago
The Season 3 Trailer For ‘Call Of Duty: Warzone’ Features Everyone From Young Thug To Mookie Betts

The Season 3 Trailer For ‘Call Of Duty: Warzone’ Features Everyone From Young Thug To Mookie Betts

11 hours ago
Kerry Washington, Ciara, And Other Celebrities Respond To Derek Chauvin’s Conviction

Kerry Washington, Ciara, And Other Celebrities Respond To Derek Chauvin’s Conviction

2 days ago
  • Write For Us
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Copyright & DMCA

Copyright © 2021 Phoenix Stokes Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
Website designed and developed by P.S. Web Pros.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • Landing Page
  • Buy JNews
  • Support Forum
  • Pre-sale Question
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 Phoenix Stokes Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
Website designed and developed by P.S. Web Pros.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In