Ain't No Sunshine: The Smooth Soul and Rough Edges of Bill Withers

by Mark Ribowsky Narrated by Beresford Bennett

Overview

The first biography of Bill Withers, the most accidental music supernova, who walked away from fame and never looked back.
Bill Withers entered the music fray as hardly an afterthought, rewrote the rules for a decade, earned a fortune, then, unable to square himself with the requisites of the music business, took his leave. When he died in 2019 at eighty-one, he was every bit the mystery he was when he started.
Born and raised in Slab Fork, West Virginia-his father a coal miner, his childhood spent in a pit of racism, and a shy kid who was asthmatic and stuttered-Withers had every reason to say, “People ask what are the blues. Hell, I was the blues!” His adulthood was spent running away from Slab Fork as a navy enlistee who worked military-related jobs, including making toilets for 747s. Music was a fantasy, ruled by unscrupulous brokers whom he thought he would never be able to live easily with. When he sang of calling on a “lonely brother” in “Lean on Me,” his biggest hit and an astounding feast for the ears, few knew that he was singing about himself. He was the lonely brother, and the business whose audio rules he refashioned only made him lonelier. His songs were not riling, but easing and caressing the deepest of emotional clefts that bore the weight of the world and the reassurance of a better day on his shoulders-“Ain't No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me,” “Use Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Just the Two of Us”-as well as album cuts that leaped off the vinyl and helped form a coterie of evergreens among his fans. Yet he ruled in his precious fold of time-eight years in the sun-without as much as an agent, manager, lawyer, accountant, valet, or flunky. He was on his own in every way.
This is the craziest success story music has known-a whirlwind that didn't begin until Withers was in his thirties and carried on as if in neat slow-motion. Now, in this remarkable biography by acclaimed author Mark Ribowsky, Withers is brought to life in vivid detail, told with insights from those who knew him throughout his short but incredibly impactful career.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

09/01/2023

When Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine" hit the airwaves in 1971, the first thing listeners heard was the sound of his voice. No intro, no gloss, just his vocals. It was the perfect introduction to a no-nonsense songsmith whose first album cover showed him wearing a T-shirt and holding a lunch pail. From the beginning, Withers (1938–2020) demonstrated an honesty and simplicity that became hallmarks of his career, Ribowsky (The Big Life of Little Richard) argues. He chronicles the icon in a fascinating biography and career retrospective that draws from interviews with those in Withers's inner recording circle. The author effectively portrays an artist who was uncompromising in his work and sharp in his craft and never wavered into diva rock-star territory. The book notes that Withers's strength of self-belief sometimes led to personal and professional struggles, but with his exceptional talent, he never lost the admiration of the public or the respect of his peers as he produced timeless music. VERDICT Withers, a staple of classic radio and movie soundtracks, seems as popular now as he's ever been. Loyal and new fans will appreciate this first full biography of the artist.—Bill Baars

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159251190
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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