Bill Withers

American singer-songwriter Bill Withers is well-known for several hit singles he enjoyed in the 70s which have gone on to attain classic status. His first single was "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), which was voted as the 20th greatest song of all-time in a 2000 list by British music magazine Mojo. At the time of release, it reached No.3 in the pop charts. His second album Still Bill included the No.1 single "Lean On Me," a song he wrote on a Wurlitzer electric piano. In 1978, his single "Lovely Day" was a minor hit, but it has grown in popularity since thanks to it's use on TV and in films. Withers had a No.2 pop hit in 1981 with "Just The Two Of Us" alongside Grover Washington, Jr.

Many of Withers' most popular songs have been covered and sampled by other artists. For example, "Ain't No Sunshine" has been borrowed in full or in part by Michael Jackson, Sting, Paul McCartney, Kenny Rogers, Tupac Shakur and DMX, among others. Bill Withers retired from the music industry in the mid-80s to concentrate on family life.