Tributes flow in for legendary songwriter Bill Withers

This past weekend was a gorgeous sunny one, however, became a little duller due to the announcement of legendary musician Bill Withers‘ death.

Since the announcement, tributes have flowed in from fans and friends alike, among which include fellow musicians Lenny Kravitz and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.

Lean On Me singer Bill Withers passed away due to heart complications at 81, with tributes flowing in on social media.

“My soul always has & always will be full of your music,” tweeted fellow musician Lenny Kravitz, while Brian Wilson dubbed the Aint No Sunshine composer a “songwriter’s songwriter.”

Your humility displayed the depth of your power as you carried us all to a better place. You are still and always will be Bill. pic.twitter.com/19YPsVCpum

— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) April 4, 2020

“Your humility displayed the depth of your power as you carried us all to a better place. You are still and always will be Bill,” wrote Kravitz in reply to his tribute tweet, sharing a short snippet of Withers singing perhaps his most well-known track, Lean On Me.

Even new-age musicians Chance The Rapper and John Legend shared tributes for the loved R&B artist.

Aw man, Bill Withers was really the greatest. Grandma’s Hands, Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean on Me, Use Me Up, Just The Two Of Us and obviously Lovely Day are some of the best songs of all time. My heart really hurts for him, it reminds me of playing records with at my grandma’s house

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 3, 2020

 

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Bill Withers and I when we celebrated his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He hadn’t sung in public for many years but he joined me and Stevie for “Lean on Me”. Thank you for the inspiration and the memories, Bill. Everyone, take the time to explore his catalog today. What an incredible songwriter/storyteller.

A post shared by John Legend (@johnlegend) on Apr 3, 2020 at 11:26am PDT

I’m very sad to hear about Bill Withers passing. Bill was a “songwriter’s songwriter” and wrote so many great songs like “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean On Me.” A real loss. Love & Mercy to Bill’s family. – Brian pic.twitter.com/dUGAre6Bjt

— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) April 3, 2020

Bill Withers, soul royalty. R.I.P. Play the music! https://t.co/R3W98BIIYk

— Boy George (Boomer) (@BoyGeorge) April 3, 2020

Justin Timberlake described Withers to be one of his “biggest idols”, posting kind words to his Instagram with some snaps of his friendship with the singer.

 

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You will always be one of my biggest idols. You taught me so much about how to keep it simple and real. I felt such a kinship with you even before we met. Your words and melodies… the chords that accompanied them… they reached into my soul and spoke to me so deeply. That’s what your music did. It brought so many of us closer to you and to each other. And, to actually know you was truly something special. You shined a light that was so unique and warm. I looked up to you the same way I looked up to my Poppa… and he was my favorite human in the world. You have always been one of the greatest and will forever be. I will miss your jokes and I will never forget your advice to me about music… “How does it make you FEEL? That’s the only question you have to answer.”⠀ ⠀ Rip Mr. Withers. One of a kind.⠀ ⠀ Ps. Swipe over to get a glimpse of the jokester he was. A little backstory: he led a songwriters discussion with Max, Shellback and myself and took the time out to put together a story and made us all think it was from a real bio. Who does that?? Only Mr. Bill.

A post shared by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Apr 3, 2020 at 6:55pm PDT

Withers passed away last Monday of heart failure, although the news was not announced until Friday morning.

Tributes are still flowing in for the iconic and historic music legend as he is remembered as a key influence in the American Soul tradition, and within the music community at large.