Bill Withers is one of the most covered artists of all time
Bill Withers was an American singer-songwriter whose career spanned from the late ’60s to the mid-’80s.
His 1971 debut album, Just As I Am, introduced the world to his soulful voice and poignant songwriting. It featured Ain’t No Sunshine, which quickly became one of his most iconic songs. The album also included Grandma’s Hands and Harlem, both of which have grown in stature over time—Grandma’s Hands famously sampled in Blackstreet’s No Diggity.
Interestingly, the debut also contained covers of Let It Be by The Beatles and Everybody’s Talkin’ by Fred Neil, the latter being a personal all-time favourite.
The following year, Withers released Still Bill, packed with four of his most enduring originals: Who Is He (And What Is He to You), Use Me, Lean On Me, and Kissing My Love.
After these two landmark albums, subsequent releases such as +’Justments (1974), Making Music (1975), and Naked & Warm (1976) failed to produce significant hits.
However, in 1977, Menagerie delivered another classic: the timeless Lovely Day.
His final major hit came in 1981 through a collaboration with Grover Washington Jr.—the smooth and beloved Just the Two of Us. It would mark the end of Withers’ chart-topping era.
Across just a decade, Bill Withers crafted some of the most enduring songs in popular music. His catalogue continues to live on through radio play, DJ sets, samples, and cover versions performed by bands around the world every weekend.
His music has been covered by an astonishing range of artists, including Michael Jackson, Joe Cocker, Shirley Bassey, John Legend, Eva Cassidy, Al Jarreau, Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Jill Scott, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Lenny Kravitz—and many more.
Bill Withers Tunes | Related Pages
Ain’t No Sunshine | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Am7 Em G5 | Am7 | Am7 Em G5 |
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, it’s not warm when she’s away…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Ain’t No Sunshine – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Everybody’s Talkin’ | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Everybody’s Talkin’ by Harry Nilsson using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Cmaj7 G6 | Cmaj7 G6 |
Everybody’s talkin’ at me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Everybody’s Talkin’ (Harry Nilsson) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Just The Two Of Us | Chords + Lyrics
Learn how to play Just The Two Of Us by Grover Washington and Bill Withers using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| Dbmaj7 C7 | Fm7 Ebm7 Ab7 |
I see the crystal raindrops fall and the beauty of it all…
Lean On Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Lean On Me by Bill Withers using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C Dm Em F | F Em Dm C | C Dm Em | Em Dm |
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Lean On Me (Bill Withers) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Lovely Day | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Lovely Day by Bill Withers using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Emaj7 | C#m7 |
When I wake up in the morning, love…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Lovely Day (Bill Withers) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Bill Withers on the web
