It seems like Bill Withers has been in my ear my entire life. Growing up in a household where ‘70s soul was the soundtrack of our lives, he was right up there with Marvin, Stevie, Diana, Chaka, Teddy P.
and other R&B legends — the artists who made me fall in love with music while I was scratching up my dad’s vinyl. Songs such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me” and the funkalicious “Use Me” made him feel like that cool uncle growing up — the one who was a reassuring presence at backyard barbecues and family reunions.
He was the sunshine. But even before I found out that his sun had set — it was announced on Friday that Mr. Withers had died on Monday from heart complications at 81 — Uncle Bill was heavy on my mind recently.