Bill Withers dies.

Bill Withers

Just over 35 years ago a friend of mine and yours truly were privileged to be in the audience for a concert hosted by the legendary American soul artist Bill Withers. Today Bill Withers died at the age of 81 and it was with a heavy heart that a personal reminiscence is passed on to those who may or may not have been one of his fans.

It was during the mid 1980s that we both settled down to watch Withers at the Walthamstow Assembly Rooms behind the town hall which probably sounds distinctly unglamorous in retrospect. But it was an evening of soothing soul anthems, reflective songs from Withers childhood in the deep South of America, the pleasure that his music provided us with and an easy going charm offensive that he achieved with a minimum of fuss.

The lasting memory of that Withers five star performance from yesteryear was the simple setting: there was the comfortable stool in the middle of the stage and then Withers himself guitar slung casually around his neck. For the best part of just over two hours the man from Slab Fork, West Virginia rolled out his back catalogue to a devoted following who were simply mesmerised by a man who'd embraced music from an early age and never lost touch with his roots.

In an interview with Bob Harris on the Old Grey Whistle Test 47 years ago Withers spoke about his formative influences, his motivations for making music and his natural affinity with both soul and funk music. With the fashionable afro hair of the age, guitar in hand and all of the necessary gospel material by his side if his childhood had suddenly revisited him, Withers went through the golden repertoire as if it were somehow instilled into him from the cot.

The songs still resonate through the ages because they'll always be permanently lodged inside your mind. Eyes shut and totally absorbed in the moment, Withers gave us 'Grandma's Hands', a blissfully affectionate homage to Withers grandmother, a sweet lullaby, a rhapsody of love to all grandmas who thought nothing of lavishing you with kindness, tenderness and care. 'Grandma's Hands' must have reminded Withers of those gentle, innocent family gatherings where grandma would ply you with sweetcorn, honey roast chicken and hundreds of Coca Cola bottles.

But the songs which literally raised Withers to the highest pinnacle were the ones that most of us think as synonymous with the soul and smooth as silk singer for many a generation. They were Bill Withers, a personification of the man's rich and prolific songbook. 'Ain't No Sunshine' was a sad lament for the early loves and relationships which never seemed the same once the partner had left them. Withers was a born romantic, a man who would have clutched a rose between his lips and poured the first glass of red wine with his wife as and when the occasion was right. Withers adored his wife for many decades and whenever they weren't together that sunshine had literally gone. It was song that Withers must have sung to his wife every day of their marriage.

Then there was 'Lean on Me', another song of re-assurance and reliability, those intimate moments when a man turns to a woman or vice versa and declares that they'll always be there at all times. Withers had now used life as a metaphor for who he really is. Whenever things do go wrong, you know that Withers will be sincere, trustworthy and loyal to the core. You can always pour your heart and bare your soul to him because he's an excellent pair of ears.

Now there was the masterpiece that singled him out as one of the world's most outstanding lyricists. On his superb album 'Menagerie', Withers composed one of those songs that are instantly identifiable and never forgotten. 'Lovely Day' was an exquisite song that drove us irresistibly to the dance floor or disco. It was the song that allowed Withers voice to quite literally soar, hold onto that note in the middle for what seemed ages and a song that illustrated perfectly his gratitude to the perfection of the day and his love of being in love.

In 'Just the Two of Us' Withers once again enjoys the concept of just sharing his affection with his wife and describing the intimacy of that special moment. How could anything emulate or surpass that indefinable moment when the couple hold hands along a sandy beach, staring out at the unforgettable sunset and then looking deeply into each other's eyes longingly?

Bill Withers may have left us but the musical legacy will endure for many a year to come. Some of us will still have a soft spot for that glorious night at Walthamstow Assembly Rooms when social media was just some far off ambition and all you needed was a stool and guitar. We shall miss Bill Withers. Quite definitely.