I worked with Bill at Weber Aircraft in LA in the early days. He mostly kept to himself, but a nice guy. He worked in what they called "the dustbowl" area of the factory where fiberglass parts were sent for sanding. Weber provided particle masks(thank goodness, or he may have not kept that wonderful voice long). But at lunch you could always find him outside on a picnic table scribbling down songs with his mask still on. He was a man obsessed with his music. I watched him write the lyrics to "Grandma's hands". RIP Bill. You will be missed by all that knew you...
Always liked Bill Withers, he was a great lyricist. I've just been listening to a greatest hits album. "Grandma's Hands" is a great song .. can't listen to it without getting a bit choked up.
It's a spiritual, gospel in its roots. "Ain't No Sunshine" was written while he was working for Ford Motor Company on the assembly line. I think it was he was assembling Ford Mustangs. Bill did alright- for himself and for others. I think he gave more than he ever took. Thanks Bill, Thank you twice.
do you ever wish you had friends to cry with when the greats pass. like i feel music so deep it makes me cry. then when an amazing artist dies i wonder if others feel what i feel. So sad.
Water Islife Your pain is shared. Eric's comment rings true to me,also. I wonder who is replacing these great musicians/Souls? The world needs to RECLAIM people being themselves; to communicate their message to the world. Especially in the realm of Music. Its bitter sweet starting my morning with Bill's message. Thanks Fil, for this dedication, to Bill Withers.
@@jv-ep2tc I like Meatloaf too a lot. Bat out of hell I have it on CD, I have it on vinyl, and I have the video on VHS. Do you recognize him in the Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp. That's a versatile guy who made a great contribution. Thank you Meatloaf. Thank you twice
I just have to say "first". This thing about saying goodbye to musicians we have listened to for so long. Hard to put in words. These people have showed us a part of their "insides' through music. No blood or even business connection but I still feel a loss.
@@sonnymaupin9267 yes, soon all these amazing genius songwriters musicians will no longer be with us, leaving Bieber ,Swift to carry us forward. How utterly depressing....
I agree. I cried , I was absolutely devastated. He was a legend to so many of us . I’d been playing his music , prior to his passing. Your right , some people so bare their soul, he was one of the few real sincere people who really sang with so much love and passion. Trying to be nobody but himself. There’s something to be said for being real , especially in today’s world . He was like a fine wine , lol, that had already aged , after one song . You want more and more . Til you fill me up .
Hi Fil !!!! I must say it pains me to hear this. Bill was one of those rare birds,composer, lyricist, and singer, a true artist who had the ability to just reach out and grab you by your soul. All lovers of music should be feeling a heartfelt loss. On a side note.. We can thank Lou Rawls for providing the spark that encouraged bill to take off on a career in music without even meeting the man.
Hi Linda! Google ...... =^> No, I couldn't remember all the songs he did and so quickly Googled his name to get a list in my mind of all the wonderful songs that he had written and that tidbit just happened to be there. When he got out of the Navy in 65 he went to a nightclub and Lou Rawls was there playing and it just hit him I can do that.
Sad to hear this. RIP. He was such a great singer. In the 1970s he wrote some great songs. Not only Lean On Me but Grandma's Hands & Ain't No Sunshine. Loved all of them.
Such a simple song. Such a simple melody. Such easy lyrics that everybody can relate to during some point in their lives. All of these bands beat each other trying to get the best phrase or melody. This guy just had it. So easy for him. RIP BILL
Extremerecluse Fallows. He captures the poetry in the every-day, the mundane, what you see so often you stop seeing it. My favorite is "Grandma's Hands." He reminds us to PAY ATTENTION to what you have right now. Never stopped playing him, never will...
Fil, thanks for the very thorough and thoughtful summation on Bill Withers' career. Bill was independent, confident and focused on what he wanted to achieve. His simple, direct and velvet voice communicated on the spiritual, mental and emotional levels. Musical tastes began to diverge in the 1970's but ask any music fan about Bill Withers and universally people replied, "Bill Withers? Oh yeah... he's the man."
Very sad that we lost another legend. Wish he wouldn't have had so much trouble with the record companies. Who knows how many wonderful songs we never got the privilege of hearing. He stayed true to who he was and never lost sight of that. Proud to be a fellow West Virginian and instilled with the same values that inspired him to write "Lean On Me"!! RIP 💜
I love the music of Bill Withers. His lyrics were straight to the point. Songs like Lean On Me, Aint No Sunshine And Just The Two Of Us are just classic that everybody will remember and sing along. Another one of his classic song is Grandma's Hands. That song does not get to much air time on the radio, Maybe because it such a short song. He is now with his Grandmother and holding her hand. Thank you Fil for remembering him.
What an amazingly talented musician Bill Withers was, he stayed true to his values. His story is remarkable, nothing mediocre about him. Thank you for the classy critique, Fil.
years ago I bought one of his albums only for 'ain't no sunshine' and I ended up loving the whole album... a unique and talented man... bless Bill... : )
What a great song, what a great human. These are the sentiments that we need today. More of this needs to be put forth, we are human beings. Got to love the honesty. Ty Fil.
Hi Fil! Thanks so much for letting us enjoy Bill as we also sadly say goodbye to him! One of the good guys...one who put such feeling into his music! It seems we have to let some of the best musicians go to Heaven way too soon...God sure has some beautiful music this week...Kenny Rogers meeting up with Bill...what music they must have shared! RIP.....he will be missed! ✌️
Fil, You are a musical Zen Master. I loved Bill Withers since the 70s. Quest Love said it correctly when he said that Bill was "Our Springsteen". Great work as always.
Bill Withers came to us back in the day when music was music , raw, no auto-tuned, no back ground antics, he is one of The Best who now has joined all the greats in Rock and Roll,the jamming up there must be incredible .... I loved all his tunes, not a bad one recorded, Lean On Me is very fitting for these crazy times, Rip, Bill Withers, you will be missed...... As per usual Filip, a fabulous analysis, thank you!
Very nice analysis, You did justice to a fellow artist. "Rest in Peace Bill Withers" thanks for all the great recordings, television appearance and concerts footage you left behind for us to lean on in troubled times.
Thank you Fil. Another great analysis. What incredible gifts Bill gave us. How many times have we heard this story about record labels? How much great music have we missed out on?
Fil, 1st of all hope you are doing well in all this COVID madness and everyone in the UK!! This is one of the emotional songs in times of troubles like we are in now!! We need this song now more than ever!!😥 Cheers mate🍺..R.I.P to Mr. Withers and thank you for recording a song with heart felt and real words!! I have friends like that..hope you do too!!
Excellent analysis of an excellent artist with an amazing God given gift. Bill Withers was an inspiration for millions of musicians like myself who wrote simple songs out of deep reflection. Tom Scholtz from the band Boston was another artist who kept his job even though he had a number one album on the charts. That is rare humility we don't see much of today.
Fil, I could definitely tell you could relate to Bill on an artist level! Great tribute!! Please consider covering this song; I like what I heard when you sang the chorus!!
Another brilliant vid, Fil! Thank you! I am always been a huge fan of Bill Withers and his incredible sensitive songs. My alltime No.1 Withers-song is "Grandma's Hands", simple, silent and so emotional little song. 👍
“He's the last African American Everyman,” musician and band leader Questlove told Rolling Stone in 2015. “Bill Withers is the closest thing black people have to a Bruce Springsteen.” From his bio it would seem that Bill Withers was more of an Everyman than Bruce Springsteen... With all due respect to Bruce Springsteen...
Fil. Now that you have expanded your musical palette to include non-guitarists , you are greater than ever. Your channel is an oasis in our cultural desert
What a unique genius! Knowing the backstory of how he applied a fairly rudimentary chord sequence to drive his song is amazing. It is the voice--the power of a voice that would not be denied--that sets him apart. Many are called--He was chosen.
Sir, thank you once again for the outstanding insights into music. Thinking of these artists as human beings is something I didn't ever consider. To have record labels telling you to write trash would be soul racking. Mr Withers' songs seem so deeply personal and kind. I'm always amazed at what you teach an old man about music. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. ☮️.
Brother, thank you for this review, and for your in-kind, sympathetic treatment of this unique performer. You gave a great musician those rarest of musical components, space and simplicity. Thanks loads, mate.
Such soulful songs he wrote... It's so meaningful to hear the stories of his life that made him what he was, and what his music will live on to be, indefinitely. 💖 My favorite haunting memory of Bill Withers is from my culinary school days. We had a mock restaurant class, and our instructor, Mr. Anderson, (The epitome of a perfect gentleman, he was! He was like watching art!) would play us Bill Withers and Van Morrison at 7:30am while we got our front of house ready for service! I couldn't have asked for a much better way to fill my heart, wake up, and have a 'Lovely Day.' ☺️ The videos where you teach by demonstration are always 'class', so thank you! (pun intended)
Bill's songs were our friends, our crutches during the troubled times we went through. And that was no preparation for these times. What a great person, musician and singer. As usual, an analyses that is worthy of an eulogy. Fil should give a class in music theory that should be required viewing for every child and parent at birth. And then before singing "Happy Birthday" they should watch it again. Music has been part of our genetic make-up and every civilization uses music as a way to teach, build a sense of community. Unfortunately in our society we lose this part of ourselves. Not everyone is a musician, but you need to at least speak in that language since it is part of all of us. If you don't use a language, you lose it.
I’m liking this video before it starts because Bill Withers is awesome but nobody in this bloody country seems to know who he is good on you for shining the light!! His vocals on Lovely Day are so dreamy
Thank you for doing this. He was so amazing. This was a song for all time. It resonates especially in our time of Covid19. A great, great singer and songwriter and he will be missed🕊
Thanks for this great tribute to the legendary Bill Withers. In addition to his instrumental and vocal talents, Bill had the ability to connect with his audience which you mentioned this in your analysis. You also provided a great example of his storytelling in your playing the guitar chords and describing their effects in the song. Bill definitely mastered the ability to connect with and tell the story to his audience. Again, thanks, Fil.
What can you say! Bill Withers had a thing! I loved his music as a kid when it was playing on the radio and as I got older it took on new and deeper meaning! Sorry your not here any longer Bill! R.I.P. Fil! Just doin this at this time means something to me! Thank you!
Songs from my childhood are still so pertinent in life now. Many things have changed but I always return to music. Thanks for this Fil and thank you mom for making me appreciate one of God's greatest creations....music. I say childhood but I was 15 when this came out and much more into rock but I've always loved all music.
Thanks, Fil for a great analysis.and tribute to Bill Withers, I sure listened to a lot of his songs this weekend. The 2015 Rock 'n Roll HOF induction as great visit as he shared the stage with Stevie Wonder and John Legend. His speech was full of quick wit and wisdom re: record companies. When he died I realized how natural it was in the last weeks of my Mom's 94 years of life, for me to make my cell phone ringtone "Ain't No Sunshine, " 'cause she listened to all my favorite songwriters while sharing a crush on Dean Martin. It's just how relatable his songs were to me, and you enlightened me some more! Thanks again,Fil! Comforting words about a real hero! ❤️
Well , Thanks To our Fil , he did save the day . That was one hell of a tribute. When I grow old , I’d be incredibly humbled to have someone say anything remotely close to what Fil said . Fil ,again as always,you have this innate ability to take it to a whole other level. Fil was definitely meant to teach ,sing , play ,and do everything musically related,indeed. Beautiful Memorial Tribute. This is something I hope that his family gets to see and hear . They would be very touched . Incredible Job . From Two incredible Men !
@@reallymysterious4393 You definitely hit the head on the head about Bill Withers being a true LEGEND and that today's "stars" have less dignity and class than he had in his little finger.
Fil you nailed it he had a great voice first time I heard this song I was hooked !! Great Song !, another legend gone.Would liked to have heard you sing the full song would have been nice touch in memorial !!!
Thanks for this insight ,into this special artist Fil,I have even more respect for him now ,than ever ,true to himself,he did it his way ,when many give in to fads/gimmicks ,the definition of self expression,and so down to earth,too, he will be sadly missed ,the world needs more musicians like this ,we were lucky to have him.
Aint no sunshine,is a real soulful song ,and a real heartbreaker,you really can hear it in his voice,such a talent,will be sadly missed,one of the true artists who put himself into the songs ,and you felt every word, unsre appreciated ,but this highlights ,just how genuine he was/is, never to be forgotten.
This is such an meaningfull song. Especial these days. I miss those days when music had something and touched your heart. Thanks for analizing this masterpiece Fil !
Fil...you are the quintessential freakin Deacon rock and roll artists man as John Lennon use to say. You have become essential AND a great reminder in my discover and infinite trip through the evolutions the revolution of music and I thank you as an analysis AND teacher and great musician in your own rite. now to the song at hand! I remember going to one of our local department stores Valley Fair in Newark and my mother bought this record [she would buy some good records (great in out time) Staple Singers Al Green, which I inherited she bought this record and we sat there and we listen to it over and over and over, my father's sister from Cleveland was visiting, Ain't No Sunshine and the rest of Bill hits we he went to be with the music gods in heaven, the band in heaven got much better when he got there, but I lost a part of my youth and my culture and thank you for this on, it took me almost 20 years to finally mourn my hero of all time John Lennon and hearing this song tonight, I sang it tonight with Bill and I tried to do that note just one step above his and it sounded good, I sent Bill due and proper, so thank you for this one and thank you for being a great artist, great teacher and now an essential part of my Discovery and evolution of Music. Well done young man! PS I saw Stevie Wonder and Glen Campbell sing blow in in the wind on live TV, I see you like Glenn a lot great star and even session man...rock is dead...long live rock!
The Irony of this ,was I was playing “Lean on Me “ for the past few weeks prior to his passing, on the piano. He definitely hits me ,with incredible emotion .His control, @ that rasp,you automatically know it’s his voice instantly. His songwriting was stellar as well . I appreciate your doing this analysis,and if I may say so , you can sing @ play , this song beautifully as well . Yes! It’s definitely clever, he wormed his way , right into my dads heart, and definitely mine , as well. I didn’t know a lot of his story either, . So again , Fil , your incredible dedication to him, means so much to us all . I’m glad you chose this one , not because I was playing it for the past month, but because Bill was a legend , and a wonderful human being. He had a really wry ,unique sense of humour ,even later in life . He’s one of my favourite musicians, however,your choosing,this song ,is so appropriate,for what we’re all going through right now , leaning on each other. I cannot believe,this info that you have taught me /us . I loved him ,because he refused to become anyone else. Bill was a regular guy ,and I adored and respected him so much for that very reason. Incredibly humble , and again I’m so glad ,that he finally did receive his own music rights ,and at least ,got to see ,how much his fans loved “ REAL” people. True Artist indeed ! Stay safe everyone,@ once again Fil , a Huge Thank You , and you really did him justice. Well done . He will be missed ,and loved . RIP Bill , Thanks for the Beautiful Songs And Beautiful Memories. These are men to really respect and admire . Very Appropriate song . May we all stay strong,and safe . Beautiful Job Fil ! ❤️❤️❤️!XO
Great job, Fil! This is one of the first songs a cousin of mine played when learning piano. Loved to sing with her. Bill was an unmatchable talent. Sure hope you stay well, Fil. Heard that the UK had a big jump in illnesses in the last day or two. If nothing else, spiritually we all need someone to lean on.
So sad to see another legend pass on...loved Bill...can't believe how time is rolling by so fast...so happy I grew up in the age of the greatest music ever recorded...
Bill was one of my favorite singer/ song writer. Most of his songs were simple but Brilliant. It's like sitting down and talking to an Uncle or grandfather unleashing sage advice. I call his music "Comfort Music". I remember as a kid we use to sing this song all the time. He will be missed.
Great performance with that soulful voice. Great stripped down performance! He always seemed to write and sing with such emotion from the heart. Feeling it. Songs like this one or the Bluesy Ain't no Sunshine to Use Me, Lovely Day & Grandma's hands. Talented versatile artist. Thankful for the catalogue of great music he left us with. What a life he had! Excellent Analysis my friend! Thanks! 😎🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦🇨🇦
One of my absolute favorites back in the summer of 72. You can't see it clearly here, but he's wearing a Pine Knob t-shirt. There's a video from this same show where he's doing 'Ain't No Sunshine' where you can see it clearly. Pine Knob is an outdoor music theater just north of Detroit where they've been having concerts since 1972. He must have played there at some point before he did this show. We used to go there with a big group of friends from the mid 70's to the mid 80's. Back then you could bring your own food and drinks, so of course we always did. We'd all sit on the lawn and basically have a party with some really great live entertainment. Never did see Bill live.
