Happy 85th Birthday to Bill Withers!

Bill left us five years ago but his musical legacy as one of America’s greatest singer-songwriters is permanent.  He is one of my all-time favorite singers and his soulful, storytelling style of music carved out a unique career. There has been many things written about Bill Withers and I don’t have a lot more to add to it.  However, he is on the first line of my favorite musicians that includes Incognito, Brand New Heavies, Sting, Pat Metheny, Sade, Guru (from Gangstarr), Big Daddy Kane, Poncho Sanchez, Wayne Shorter, and Miles Davis. I would recommend that all music lovers listen to his music.  Here is my favorite ten Bill Withers songs:

1) Ain’t No Sunshine

2) Use Me

3) Who Is He & What Is He To You

4) Kissing My Love

5) Grandma’s Hands

6) Harlem

7) I Can’t Write Left Handed

8) Lovely Day

9) The Same Love That Made Me Laugh

10) Heartbreak Road

I could have listed several more songs to my top ten list.  But I believe these ten songs are the ones I listen to the most from his catalog. I know the 4th of July will be celebrated here in America as our day of independence.  I get that.  However, I want to acknowledge that one of my favorite singers celebrated a birthday on the same day.  You can not tell the story of American popular music without the man from Slab Fork, West Virginia and I will always do my part to remember his contribution to our music.