Bill Withers

USA, 1970–1985

American singer and songwriter (1938-2020) who began recording in his thirties while working in a factory. 'Ain't No Sunshine', 'Lean on Me' and 'Use Me' use plain language and spare arrangement.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Bill Withers and 0 artists Bill Withers influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Bill Withers?

• Sam Cooke — Withers's plainspoken soul grew from the gospel-and-Sam-Cooke tradition, filtered through folk intimacy.
• Ray Charles — Ray Charles's gospel-blues-soul fusion is the bedrock of the introspective R&B Withers wrote.